Taylor Swift, the renowned pop superstar, has recently discovered a surprising family connection to the legendary American poet Emily Dickinson. According to genealogy company Ancestry, the pair are sixth cousins, three times removed, sharing a common ancestor who was an early settler of Windsor, Connecticut. Swift's ancestors eventually settled in north-western Pennsylvania, where they married into the Swift family line.

Swift has previously cited Dickinson as an inspiration, mentioning her in 2022 while discussing the different types of lyrics she writes for her songs. The singer received an award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International and mentioned writing in the "Quill genre," comparing her lyrics to a letter written by Emily Dickinson's great-grandmother while sewing a lace curtain.

Fans have also speculated about whether Swift's ninth studio album, "Evermore," was inspired by Dickinson's works. The album was announced on December 10, 2020, which marks the 190th anniversary of Dickinson's birth in Amherst, Massachusetts. The singer's upcoming album, titled "The Tortured Poets Department," has also sparked interest among fans who believe it may have been influenced by Dickinson's poetic legacy.

This revelation adds to a trend of surprising family connections discovered by Ancestry. In 2019, the company found a family link between Tom Hanks and the late children's TV host Fred Rogers. Ancestry's director of research, Jennifer Utley, emphasized the importance of exploring one's past and how it can influence the present, highlighting the uncanny similarities between Swift and Dickinson. The Emily Dickinson Museum even extended an invitation to Swift, jokingly suggesting it was time for her to plan a visit now that the family connection has been revealed.