Starlight is a song written by Taylor Swift after seeing a picture of Ethel and Bobby Kennedy when they were seventeen. She thought ‘They look like they’re having the best night.’ and wrote this song about what the night might have been like. Swift wound up meeting Ethel and playing it for her.

Ethel and Bobby Kennedy are the grandparents of Conor Kennedy, whom Taylor was dating while writing for her album RED. She became especially close to Ethel Kennedy during their relationship. Taylor wrote the song alone and co-produced it with regular collaborator Nathan Chapman and Dann Huff.