All the Ways Taylor Swift Has Drawn Inspiration From Elizabeth Taylor’s Life For Her Music

Taylor Swift has repeatedly drawn inspiration from Elizabeth Taylor, both for her lyrics and visually for the singer’s artistic presentation:

■ In her song “… Ready for It?” from her 2017 album Reputation, Taylor cowrote the lyric “Burton to this Taylor,” referencing Elizabeth’s tumultuous relationship with and two marriages to Richard Burton in pointing to an unidentified partner of her own, per Elle.

■ TS is even more direct in her reverence for Elizabeth on her new 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl with a song that is named “Elizabeth Taylor,” a total homage to the Hollywood legend with references to Liz’s iconic violet eyes, White Diamonds perfume, the Italian village Portofino where Burton proposed in 1964, Paris’ Plaza Athénée where she stayed with Burton, and Musso & Frank’s, one of Liz’s favorite LA eateries.

■ Also from The Life of a Showgirl, the music video for “The Fate of Ophelia” sees Swift transform through a series of personas, paying homage to Elizabeth’s legendary glamour with diamonds, corsets and classic film-star lighting.

■ In promotional photos for the album variant The Life of a Showgirl: The Crowd Is Your King, Swift wears blush-toned corsetry and diamond jewelry that echo Elizabeth’s signature Hollywood elegance and lifelong love of diamonds.