The singer Nell in the story is revealed to be Nellie Bly in the last scene. As in the famous female reporter.
The episode is connected to the famous jilted lover's ballad "Frankie and Johnny", with references to several elements from the song. The song's lyric begins with "Frankie and Johnny were lovers", which is represented in the episode by the relationship between Johnny and Francine (Frankie). As the story within the song progresses, each verse includes a version of the phrase "He was her man, but he done her wrong", which is represented in the episode when it is revealed that Johnny had become enamored with another woman, who is named Nell. As the story in the song continues, Frankie catches Johnny in the arms of a woman named Nellie Bly, and she murders him in a fit of rage. This is also referenced in the episode when Francine eventually confesses to Jim Hardie that she caught Johnny and Nell together, and she murdered him in a moment of jealous rage, as in the song. And in the final scene of the episode as Nell is leaving town on the stage, she tells Hardie that her name is actually Nellie Bly, once again referencing the song.