If you’re a fan of Hailee Steinfeld, Taylor Swift, or conspiracy-level deep dives into music theories, then you’re in for a treat. When I sat down with Hailee for The Movie Dweeb, I couldn’t resist introducing her to a particularly juicy theory—that Taylor Swift’s album evermore was inspired by none other than Emily Dickinson, the legendary poet Hailee portrayed in Apple TV+’s Dickinson.

The Theory: Is Evermore Low-Key About Emily Dickinson?

Swifties are famous for their detective skills, and this theory has some compelling evidence:

• December 10th Connection: Taylor Swift announced evermore on December 10th—coincidentally (or not?) the birthday of Emily Dickinson.
• The ‘Forevermore’ Clue: Dickinson’s poem One Sister Have I in Our House—one of her most romantic poems written for her lover, Sue Gilbert—ends with the word “forevermore”.
• A Sleepwalking Girl in 1830: In a past interview with Entertainment Weekly, Swift described an idea for evermore as “this girl sleepwalking through the forest in a nightgown in 1830”—which happens to be the year Dickinson was born.
• The Hailee Connection: Swift and Steinfeld have been friends for years, and Hailee famously played Dickinson in Dickinson.

With all this evidence, I had to ask Hailee if she had any inside scoop. Her response? “I don’t know, but I’m dying to know, because what you’ve just mentioned, it’s like the clues are lining up. I gotta figure that out.”

Looks like we’ve got Hailee Steinfeld on the case!

Dickinson: Hailee Steinfeld’s Literary Rebellion

For those who haven’t watched Dickinson yet (seriously, what are you waiting for?), it’s a wildly inventive and modern take on the life of Emily Dickinson. The series follows a young, rebellious Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) as she grapples with societal expectations, love, and her poetic genius.

The second season dives deeper into Emily’s internal conflict—does she want fame, or is she content with her words staying hidden? With Ella Hunt as Sue Gilbert, Adrian Blake Enscoe as Austin Dickinson, and Jane Krakowski as Emily’s mother, the show blends history with humor, modern music, and an energy that somehow makes 19th-century poetry feel incredibly punk rock.

Hailee & Taylor: A Friendship for the Ages

Hailee and Taylor’s friendship goes way back, with Hailee even appearing in Swift’s Bad Blood music video. They’ve been spotted hanging out at award shows, supporting each other’s projects, and proving that Hollywood friendships can be the real deal.

Given their close bond, it wouldn’t be entirely shocking if Taylor had drawn some inspiration from Hailee’s portrayal of Emily Dickinson. Whether or not evermore was actually Dickinson-inspired remains a mystery—but with Hailee Steinfeld now on the case, we might just get some answers.

Evermore: Taylor Swift’s Folk-Poetry Masterpiece

Released as the surprise sister album to folklore, evermore took Taylor Swift’s storytelling to a whole new level. With tracks like willow, champagne problems, and marjorie, the album is full of rich narratives, haunting melodies, and poetic lyrics that feel like they could have been written in another century.

Was Taylor Swift secretly channeling Emily Dickinson? Did Hailee Steinfeld’s Dickinson performance spark inspiration? One thing’s for sure—this is one literary mystery we’d love to see solved!