When Taylor Swift dropped her latest album, few could have predicted that one of its most talked-about tracks would reignite fascination with a cinematic legend from decades past. The song “Elizabeth Taylor” has sent online searches for the late Hollywood icon soaring by over 9,000%, as a new generation of fans rediscovers one of film’s most glamorous — and complex — figures.

“Why Elizabeth Taylor?”

In an interview clip accompanying the album’s release, Swift explained her inspiration:

“I love Elizabeth Taylor. I love her so much. She’s like the ultimate icon — the kind of woman I look to when I think about someone who was under immense pressure, constantly scrutinized, and yet remained so powerful and so herself.”

The timing couldn’t have been more serendipitous. Just as Swift’s album hit streaming platforms, Fox Nation premiered its three-part docuseries Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar — executive produced by Kim Kardashian. The overlap created a cultural moment where two generations of “Taylors” converged.

Parallels Between Two Powerhouses

The docuseries paints Taylor as the original Hollywood disruptor — the first woman to earn $1 million for a film (Cleopatra) and a pioneer who fought for artistic freedom long before it was fashionable.

“At the time, what bothered me most was being treated like a commodity,” Elizabeth Taylor once said. “I finally got away from MGM and was one of the first to start my own company and make my own deals.”

Much like the screen icon who challenged Hollywood’s studio system, Swift famously battled for control of her own music catalog — re-recording her albums to reclaim ownership of her masters.

“It’s almost like the more polarizing people were about her,” Swift noted, “the more she just kept taking bigger risks. She kept winning, on her own terms.”

Love, Scrutiny, and Survival

Both Taylors have faced relentless media obsession over their love lives. Swift has been the subject of sexist commentary about her romantic history, while Elizabeth Taylor was notoriously shamed for her eight marriages — two of them to actor Richard Burton.

“We were so passionately in love,” Elizabeth once admitted. “It was so intense it was almost abnormal.”

Despite public criticism, Taylor never let scandal define her. “Even with all of that negative attention,” Swift said, “she wasn’t going to let it stop her from finding love.”

Humor as Armor

Elizabeth Taylor was as witty as she was defiant.

“She used humor as a weapon,” Swift observed. “I’ve done that with songs like Blank Space — when people called me a man-eater, I leaned into it. I wrote from that perspective.”

A Legacy Renewed

The resurgence of interest in Elizabeth Taylor proves that her story — of resilience, reinvention, and unshakable self-worth — still resonates deeply in 2025.

“I just love everything about Elizabeth,” Swift said, smiling. “Everybody should be obsessed with her.”

And now, thanks to one song, they are.