Taylor Swift dropped the track list to 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’s descendants, great-granddaughter Brittany Grace Bell, has spoken out about the special tribute and told TMZ in an article published on Friday that the family is excited that her ‘name can live on.’
On Tuesday, the Love Story songstress, 34, released the full 17 song track list for the album – which will be available later this year on April 19.
Bell informed the outlet that both she and her family hope the attention towards the song can help shed spotlight on 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 over the special tribute.
She also explained that she was curious over what had 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.
However, just like many other Taylor Swift fans, Brittany has come up with her own theory in regards to naming the song Clara Bow.
She stated that the performer’s career is similar in terms of being in the spotlight and under media attention, just like Bow during the height of her career in the 1920s and through part of the 1930s as well.
Bell additionally commented on Taylor’s recent look at the 66th Grammy Awards over the past weekend – where she notably announced the upcoming album on stage.
When it came to accessorizing the eye-catching, white Schiaparelli gown, the beauty notably wore glittering, silver necklaces as well as a sparkling, black watch.
Clara had also worn a watch as a necklace along with pearls while posing for a photo around 1925.
Brittany expressed her interest to the publication if Bow’s past look had also been inspiration for Taylor’s own Grammys outfit.
After the track list to Tortured Poets Department dropped, Bell explained that she believes Clara would be more than happy to have ‘her family name live on.’
In conclusion, her great-granddaughter stated that she is looking forward to the release of the album to see the accompanying lyrics to the track.
Clara Bow was prominent in the silent film era and was not only classified as a sex symbol in the 1920s, but also received the nickname of ‘The It Girl.’
After working in silent films, she then made the transition into talkies beginning in 1929. Some of the movies that she starred in during her career included Mantrap (1926), Wings (1927) and Call Her Savage (1932).
Despite her success in Hollywood, the iconic actress also reportedly had struggles when it came to mental health and due to the pressures of working in the industry, she eventually retired in 1933.
Elaine Shepherd, who had previously produced a documentary based on Bow back in 2012, told the BBC, ‘The studios were working her to death.’
‘She was on heaps of primitive pills to get her out of bed in the morning and to get her to sleep at night.’
‘Executives were trying to exploit her as much as possible, gossip magazines were writing the most awful lies about her, and she was dealing with all that on her own, as a woman in her twenties,’ Shepherd added.
‘She just found it way too stressful,’ Elaine continued, shutting down rumors that Clara had been ‘thrown out of Hollywood.’
‘When sound came in, she was paid massive amounts of money to make a couple of talkies, and if she’d had more support early on, she could have carried on having a substantial career.’
In 1931, she married Rex Bell and the two lived on a ranch in Nevada. The pair welcomed two children during the course of their marriage.
In September 1956, Bow passed away following a heart attack at the age of 60. She was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Before teasing her fans with the track list to Tortured Poets Department, Swift announced the album at the Grammys over the past weekend.
After the surprise revelation, fans were also quickly convinced that the title of the album was in reference to her ex, Joe Alwyn.
She made 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 for 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 a little time to whisk herself back to the United States just in time to watch beau Travis Kelce and the Chiefs take part in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11.
