The romance between Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy continues to blossom, with friends saying the singer’s “positive spirit” is helping him through the heartbreak of losing his mother.
Pals say the 22-year-old superstar has really helped 18-year-old Conor, the son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., following the death of his mother Mary Richardson Kennedy. And Taylor has encouraged Conor to pursue his interest in whale research as well as take on the huge responsibility of becoming administrator of his late mother’s estate.
PHOTOS: TAYLOR SWIFT AND CONOR KENNEDY
A source told us, “Taylor has a really generous and positive spirit, and the whole Kennedy family loves her. She met Ethel at Sundance in January [when the singer attended the screening of HBO documentary “Ethel”], and then she came out to visit the family at Hyannis Port on the Fourth of July.
“It has been a very difficult time for Conor, losing his mother, and Taylor has great positive energy. She is definitely helping him through this.
“He is so young and has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, becoming the administrator of his mother’s estate. It’s a lot of work, but he is smart and reliable, and will stand up to the role.”
The source said Conor has been doing volunteer work to help extract DNA from whales to research how the Gulf of Mexico oil spill affected the mammals. His father is the president of Waterkeeper Alliance, which campaigns for safe waterways worldwide.
Our source added, “Conor is a genuine guy and, like his father, is interested in environmental issues and is trying to save the world.”
Aside from spending time with the family, the Kennedy kids have been concentrating on personal projects as they grieve the loss of their mother. Kyra, 16, has been in Africa on a church mission. Fin, 14, has been at ski camp.
Conor’s half-sister Kick, 24, appears in HBO’s “Newsroom” and has been working with patients at Bellevue Hospital. She told us, “Conor has the biggest heart in the world, and Taylor is lovely. It’s been a tough summer, and I hope he gets to enjoy a little peace now.”