Taylor Swift dropped the track list for her upcoming album, Tortured Poets Department, earlier this week, with one song named after the silent film star: Clara Bow.
One of the late actress’ descendants, great-granddaughter Brittany Grace Bell, has spoken out about the special tribute and shared TMZ in an article published Friday that the family is excited that her “name can live on.”
On Tuesday, the Love Story singer, 34, released the full 17-song tracklist for the album – which will be available later this year on April 19.
Bell told the outlet that both she and her family hope the spotlight on the song can spotlight Clara’s many talents and achievements throughout her life.
Brittany added that although Swift and her team never reached out before naming the track, she was excited about the special tribute.
Taylor Swift, 34, dropped the track list from her upcoming album, Tortured Poets Department, earlier this week — with one song named after silent film star Clara Bow; seen earlier this month at the 2024 Grammy Awards in LA
One of the late actress’ descendants, great-granddaughter Brittany Grace Bell, has spoken out about the special tribute, telling TMZ in an article published Friday that the family is excited that her “name can live on”; seen in 1927
She also explained that she was curious about what inspired the title.
Bow’s great-granddaughter told TMZ that she would love it if the award-winning singer’s team could contact her to discuss the meaning and “backstory” behind the track.
But like many other Taylor Swift fans, Brittany has come up with her own theory regarding the name of the song Clara Bow.
She stated that the artist’s career is similar in terms of being in the spotlight and under media attention, much like Bow during the height of her career in the 1920s and also part of the 1930s.
Bell additionally commented on Taylor’s recent look at this past weekend’s 66th Annual Grammy Awards — where she notably announced the upcoming album on stage.
When it came to accessorizing the statement white Schiaparelli dress, the beauty notably wore shimmering silver chains and a sparkling black watch.
Clara had also worn a watch as a necklace around 1925, along with pearls, while posing for a photo.
Brittany expressed her interest to the publication if Bow’s past looks had also inspired Taylor’s own Grammys outfit.
After the Tortured Poets Department tracklist was dropped, Bell explained that she believes Clara would love for “her family name to live on.”
On Tuesday, the Love Story singer, 34, released the full 17-song tracklist for the album – which will be available later this year on April 19.
Brittany added that while Swift and her team were never contacted regarding the song’s title, she expressed her curiosity about what inspired naming it after the silent film star; seen in 1920
Bell additionally commented on Taylor’s recent look at this past weekend’s 66th Annual Grammy Awards — where she notably announced the upcoming album on stage.
Finally, her great-granddaughter stated that she is looking forward to the album’s release to see the accompanying lyrics to the song.
Clara Bow was prominent in the silent film era and was not only classified as a sex symbol in the 1920s, but also nicknamed “The It Girl.”
After working in silent films, she switched to talkies from 1929. Some of the films she starred in during her career included Mantrap (1926), Wings (1927) and Call Her Savage (1932).
Despite her success in Hollywood, the iconic actress reportedly also had mental health issues and due to the pressures of working in the industry, she eventually retired in 1933.
Elaine Shepherd, who had previously produced a documentary about Bow in 2012, told the BBC“The studios were killing her.”
“She was taking loads of primitive pills to get her out of bed in the morning and to sleep at night.”
“Executives tried to exploit her as much as possible, tabloids wrote the most horrible lies about her, and she did it all alone, as a woman in her 20s,” Shepherd added.
“She just found it way too stressful,” Elaine continued, debunking rumors that Clara had been “kicked out of Hollywood.”
Clara Bow was prominent in the silent film era and was not only classified as a sex symbol in the 1920s, but also nicknamed ‘The It Girl’; seen in 1928 for Paramount Pictures
In 1931 she married Rex Bell and the two lived on a farm in Nevada. The couple welcomed two children during their marriage; Clara and Rex seen in 1932
Before Swift teased fans with the Tortured Poets Department track list, she announced the album at the Grammys this past weekend (see above)
“When sound came along, she was paid huge sums of money to make a few talkies, and if she had had more support early on she could have gone on to have a substantial career.”
In 1931 she married Rex Bell and the two lived on a farm in Nevada. The couple welcomed two children during their marriage.
In September 1956, Bow died of a heart attack at the age of 60. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Before teasing fans with the Tortured Poets Department track list, Swift announced the album at the Grammys this past weekend.
On Wednesday, Swift kicked off more international dates of her Eras Tour at the Tokyo Dome, and will perform additional dates in the city through Saturday, February 10; Seen in Tokyo on Wednesday
Swift will attend Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11, to watch friend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas; seen late last month in Baltimore
Following the surprising revelation, fans were also quick to believe that the album’s title referred to her ex, Joe Alwyn.
She achieved a milestone at the ceremony by becoming the first music artist to win four Album of the Year awards. The Bad Blood hitmaker also won Best Pop Vocal Album for Midnights.
On Wednesday, Swift kicked off more international dates of her Eras Tour at the Tokyo Dome, and will perform additional dates in the city through Saturday, February 10.
Her next concert is scheduled for February 16 in Melbourne, Australia, giving the singer some time to return to the United States just in time to see beau Travis Kelce and the Chiefs participate in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11.