Taylor

TAYLOR Swift gave a rare performance in front of a star-studded crowd as she kicked off a campaign to win her first Oscar.

The superstar, 36, sang a four-track set at the glitzy Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday.

It included her single I Knew It, I Knew You, which was recorded for Toy Story 5 — and which Taylor hopes will be nominated for Best Original Song at the awards ceremony next March.

The singer made an impression in her custom Dior gown with platinum earrings featuring 32.40 carats of diamonds and a platinum bracelet.

Her look was created by Northern Irish fashion designer Jonathan Anderson, who was also behind the wedding dress she wore marrying American football player Travis Kelce three months ago.

Insiders believe Taylor was hoping the performance — which also included the live debut of her hit single The Fate of Ophelia — was her going the extra mile to woo Academy Award ­voters after several failed attempts to get an Oscar nomination in the past.

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She has released original tracks for a series of hit films over the years, including The Hunger Games, Fifty Shades Freed, and Cats, but has never qualified for the gong.

Her 15-minute All Too Well: The Short Film also failed to secure a nomination in 2023.

But I Knew It, I Knew You spent two weeks at No1 in the UK when it came out in June, making it Taylor’s most successful film track to date.

An industry insider said: “Taylor knows how Hollywood works and is keen to build goodwill and visibility among the people who vote for the Oscars.

“She’s made no secret of her ambition to win an Academy Award so is pulling out all the stops this year.”

If she does win an Oscar, it would bring her one step closer to one of the highest achievements in US showbiz: the EGOT — winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony.

Only 28 people have done so, and Taylor is halfway there, having bagged 14 Grammys and an Emmy.

She is also working on a musical which would put her in line for a Tony, the highest accolade in theatre.

A number of A-listers were at the fancy bash, considered LA’s answer to New York’s Met Gala.

Taylor chatted with several celebrity pals inside, including Sabrina Carpenter who wore a royal blue, backless dress with shoulder tassels.

Swift’s former foe Kim Kardashian, 45, was also at the event, channelling Elizabeth Taylor with a bouffant hairdo, an archival 1951 Balenciaga dress, and a 55.8-carat diamond necklace.

Meanwhile, actress Teyana Taylor, 35, wore a Schiaparelli torso bodysuit alongside Kylie Minogue, 58, who posed in a a slashed black gown.

Charlize Theron, 51, turned up to receive the Icon Award for her celebrated acting career.

One is Catholic, the other Jewish. One was a star linebacker for a private high school, Loyola, the other a star receiver for a public high school, Newbury Park. Both wear the same jersey number at UCLA, No. 20.

Scott Taylor and Shane Rosenthal became roommates last year and based on their many smiles, witty comeback lines and football success, it’s clear they’ve become best friends and best teammates.

“It’s cool,” Rosenthal said.

“We just get along really well,” Taylor said.

They share an apartment with two other UCLA players, punter Lennox Miller and defensive back Kuron Jabari.

Whatever initial concerns or perceived stereotypes they may have had quickly vanished after learning about their similar upbringings, goals and expectations to be good students and good people.

“I hosted him on his official visit,” Taylor said. “Hosted him for dinner, took him to Westwood. We have a lot of the same priorities, doing the right things, eating the right food, going to bed at the right time. Little things.”

Said Rosenthal: “We’re on the same timing for everything. He plays defense. I play offense. We’re able to watch film together, talk about football, talk about what he sees from the defense, talk about what I see from the offense and how we go at each other in practice.”

Taylor, a 6-foot-4, 241-pound sophomore who’s never seen a steak he didn’t want to eat, “is a damn good cook,” said his grandfather, Bill Thomason, a former Loyola principal and basketball coach. Thomason once bought his grandson Omaha Steaks as a birthday gift.

“They were so good,” Taylor said.

He sometimes drives home on Sundays to cook steaks for family members. And he eats them, too.

In the competition for who cleans the room the best, Rosenthal wins in a landslide.

“He might be the cleanest guy in the country,” Taylor said. “He might be an All-American cleaner.”

Said Rosenthal: “I definitely feel like I’m the cleanest guy in the apartment.”

As for washing clothes, both said there are no irons in sight. They learned how to do laundry at home but it appears parents are always welcome to help.

Taylor is dating a girl who’s Jewish but Rosenthal gets no credit as a matchmaker since they’ve been seeing each other well before Rosenthal arrived. “There’s usually two Jews in the apartment,” Rosenthal said.

Taylor has become a key pass rusher for the 4-0 Bruins going into Saturday’s game against Oregon. Rosenthal, also a sophomore, has received playing time as a gunner on punts while being a backup receiver. He’s the state-record holder in high school football with 24 career interceptions, so tackling on special teams is something he does well while waiting for the opportunity to show his receiving skills.

Taylor has used weight training to build up his body and give himself an NFL-like stature. It started back during the pandemic when he was 13. He decided to walk down the street to the local fitness center that was allowing kids to use the equipment for free — as long as they were 15. Somehow, he convinced them he was 15. When the business started charging him, he got his mom’s credit card, became a paid member and the rest is history. He has the talent to be on par with former UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger.

He also possesses the ability to comfortably talk in public. He was the only UCLA player chosen to answer questions from the media after Bob Chesney was introduced as head coach last December. On Tuesday, Taylor welcomed a group of middle school students touring Spaulding Field with high-fives and fist-pumps.

Taylor remembers his first impression of Chesney addressing the team.

“He’s a great communicator to you guys,” Taylor said of Chesney. “He’s also a great communicator to us. Everything’s crystal clear about what we’re supposed to do, what our role is since Day 1. He showed up and said, ‘If you guys choose to stay here’ and … this is before the portal even opened. ‘If you guys choose to stay here, we’re gonna do something special, so if you choose to stay, be ready to work, be ready to compete.’”

Taylor said the foundation of strong relationships within the team is important.

“It’s really special the connection we have,” he said. “And I think that speaks to who we are as a team because it’s really easy to play hard for each other when we’re so close off the field.”

If Chesney ever decides to host a team barbecue, Taylor is ready to lend his steak-cooking skills, with Rosenthal at his side.

Taylor Suarez scored in the 91st minute goal to lift Angel City (12-8-7) to a 1-1 draw against host Gotham FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J.

Suarez scored her third goal of her rookie season off an assist from Emily Sams.

Gotham (16-4-7) broke through first when Midge Purce found Rose Lavelle, who slipped a diagonal pass back to Jaedyn Shaw. Shaw met it with a one-touch shot past Angel City goalkeeper Angelina Anderson for her 10th goal of the season.

Strictly Come Dancing fans are all making the same comment new It Takes Two presenter about Ellie Taylor. The comedian has replaced Fleur East and Janette Namrara on the BBC Two show

Strictly Come Dancing fans have showered the spin-off programme It Takes Two‘s new host with compliments after she succeeded Fleur East and Janette Namrara in the role. Some aspects of the weekday have come under fire following recent changes, but it appears the inclusion of Ellie Taylor is its one saving grace.

Following the announcement that Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe would be replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the main programme, the BBC revealed in August that there were plans to revamp the midweek show as well. This decision saw Ellie given the It Takes Two presenting duties – four years after her stint on Strictly as a contestant.

Following the Beeb’s confirmation of Ellie’s role back in August, she said in a statement: “What a total joy to return to Strictly in this new role. I feel incredibly honoured to follow in the footsteps of the phenomenal line-up of hosts who’ve made Strictly – It Takes Two so loved over the years.

“I can’t wait to immerse myself in all the gossip and sequins flying out of the ballroom in order to bring my fellow Strictly fans everything they need to know. I’m so excited, I could cha cha! (But I won’t – don’t worry… no one needs to see that again.)”.

Now, after the series’ first two showers, fans have issued praise towards Ellie, 42.

“Just catching up on It Takes Two,” one person said on X.” I’m not enjoying everything, but my God Ellie is smashing it soo far. Absolutely brilliant.”

A second person agreed: “Don’t like the changes, but Ellie is fab. Should have got the main gig with Emma.”

A third shared: “Ellie Taylor hosts it well, but the new version of It Takes Two has nothing worth watching anymore.”

While a fourth viewer added: “Ellie Taylor is good, the new It Takes Two set is awful with the wooden unvarnished floor all that glitz and glamour gone, no pro interviews. I know they wanted to revamp both the Strictly main show and It Takes Two but the changes aren’t good.”

And a fifth asked: “I adore Ellie Taylor but I’m not sure I like this new It Takes Two at all. Why are they making so many changes – why change the ITT set this year when it literally got changed last year?”

Essex-born Ellie old rose to prominence as a comedian before transitioning into presenting roles on programmes including Snog Marry Avoid? and The Great Pottery Throw Down. On It Takes Two, she faces the challenge of following in the footsteps of previous hosts Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark and Claudia.

It Takes Two producer Rhe-An Archibald said of the changes: “This is Strictly – It Takes Two, reinvented for the 2026 season. With a wealth of new features and deep dives, we want to reflect the conversations happening in living rooms up and down the country – full of opinions, laughs, surprises and those moments everyone wants to talk about.

“With the fun and funny Ellie at the helm, it will be an utterly unmissable companion to Strictly Come Dancing.”

Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs Monday to Friday at 6:30pm on BBC Two and is also available on BBC iPlayer.

COPS have threatened to force arrested criminals to listen to Taylor Swift’s new release on loop.

Greensboro Police in North Carolina, US, jokingly swiped at the superstar’s album after it received mixed reviews.

They posted: “Those who are arrested tonight will be required to listen to Taylor Swift’s new songs on repeat.”

But following a huge online backlash, the force later wrote: “We apologise for stirring up the Taylor bots.

“Please continue to listen to The Life of a Showgirl.”

But the post remains up on X with more than 80,000 likes.

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Cruel Summer singer Swift, 36, re-released her Life of a Showgirl album with four new songs last week, adding “The Encore” to the title.

But critics were not impressed.

Music magazine Pitchfork rated it 4/10, saying: “Taylor Swift has let the quality of her songwriting slide in favour of commercial domination.”

Critic Shaad D’Souza added: “Yes, Taylor Swift will always have one of the greatest songwriting catalogues of all time.

“Not even Taylor Swift could take that away from her — but she sure is trying.”

The album came out in 2025 as the first release since the end of her record-breaking Eras Tour, but failed to win acclaim.

Swift previously said she did not intend to add new tracks, but later admitted she went on a trip with her collaborators and “did what we do when we feel anything: we wrote more songs”.

SIENNA Spiro fans were left confused over her ‘strange’ reaction to meeting Taylor Swift at the VMAs this weekend.

The Die On This Hill hitmaker won Best New Artist at the prestigious awards, while Taylor was awarded three gongs during the bash.

Now, a video of the pair crossing paths backstage is circulating online.

In the clip, Taylor walks past London-born Sienna and seemingly congratulates her with a smile.

Sienna appeared to thank Taylor before looking down and turning to her team and making a face.

In the comment section, some slammed the face Sienna made as disrespectful to the megastar.

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“Why did she look mad???” asked one fan.

Another said: “Wait is she mocking TS? I am confused.”

“Wait is she mocking TS? I am confused.” wrote a third.

However, some defended Sienna – who was holding her high heels in her hands after taking them off – and claimed she was simply overwhelmed following the win.

“I think she was still in shock from winning,” said a user.

Another speculated: “I could tell by her body language she was embarrassed because she was holding her heels in her hands. 😭 I felt that for her. And her facial expression after.

“I can’t tell if she’s having a “how can this be real” moment or an “ew” moment /gen,” said another.

The Sun has reached out to Sienna’s representive for comment.

The awards bash saw music’s top stars in attendance, with Madonna opening the show before being joined by Sabrina Carpenter and later followed by Charli XCX.

Taylor’s three prizes included Video of the Year for The Fate Of Ophelia and meant Taylor is now the most-decorated act in VMA history with 33 gongs, overtaking Beyoncé.

TAYLOR Swift debuted Patient Zero music video at the MTV Video Music Awards after accepting a massive honor.

The Fate of Ophelia singer accepted the first-ever Artist Director Honor at the annual awards ceremony on Sunday.

Taylor’s good friend, Dakota Johnson, who also stars in the music video for her new single Patient Zero, presented her with the award.

The global pop star kept her acceptance speech short and sweet before introducing the world premiere of the highly anticipated music video.

She shared a teaser of the video, which also stars Colin Farrell, on Friday, before announcing that all will be revealed during Sunday’s ceremony.

Fans were taken aback by the video’s grim twist, as she portrayed Colin’s character’s deceased former partner, but it overall received rave reviews online.

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“Taylor really wanted to team up with MTV to do something to celebrate the release of Patient Zero,” a source told Page Six about Taylor’s VMAs appearance.

“They created this award just for her. It’s their first time handing out this award.

The insider also said that the “timing made sense,” given the release of Taylor’s latest single, alongside three other new tracks.

The four new songs are a part of The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, an extended deluxe edition of her 2025 album, The Life of a Showgirl.

“She really wanted to be there, and the network wanted to figure out a moment in the show that was special to her where she wasn’t just in the background, so MTV made this moment happen,” the source added about the collaboration.

Taylor, 36, was one of the last to arrive on the red carpet at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles in a stunning black and silver gown.

Her husband, NFL tight end Travis Kelce, 36, skipped the event to play with the Kansas City Chiefs in their game against the Miami Dolphins in Florida earlier in the day.

While Taylor has supported her man on the sidelines since the football season began, she couldn’t miss this night as she was the first recipient of the Artist Director Honor.

This marked the singer’s 31st Moon Man trophy, breaking her tie with Beyoncé for the most VMA wins.

The vocalist was also nominated for nine other awards – the second-most of the night behind Madonna, who had 11 nominations – and won the Video of the Year award.

Taylor has kept a lower profile since her and Travis’s extravagant July 4th wedding.

MOST AWARDED ARTISTS IN VMA HISTORY

Since the iconic MTV Video Music Awards first premiered to shake up pop culture in 1984, artists across all genres have tried their best to score the coveted Moonman trophy. Here are the top 10 musician’s who have taken home the most hardware:

• Taylor Swift – 31 wins: Taylor is now the most-awarded artist in VMA history. She has won Video of the Year five times, including for her hit All Too Well, and picked up a record nine awards in one night for Midnights in 2023.
• Beyoncé – 30 wins: Beyoncé’s haul includes six wins for Formation in 2016, plus Video of the Year for Single Ladies in 2009. Her total also includes two wins with Destiny’s Child.
• Lady Gaga – 22 wins: Gaga dominated the 2010 VMAs, taking home seven awards for Bad Romance. She has also won Artist of the Year twice.
• Madonna – 20 wins: The original VMA powerhouse has collected wins for Vogue, Ray of Light and Express Yourself, as well as the Video Vanguard Award.
• Eminem – 15 wins: The rapper is the most-awarded male artist in VMA history, with wins including Without Me, The Real Slim Shady, Not Afraid and Houdini.
• Ariana Grande – 13 wins: Ariana has collected 13 Moonmen, including Video of the Year and Best Pop for Brighter Days Ahead and three wins for Rain on Me with Lady Gaga.
• Peter Gabriel – 13 wins: Peter holds one of the biggest records in VMA history: 10 wins at the 1987 ceremony, including nine for Sledgehammer.
• R.E.M. – 12 wins: The rock band swept the 1991 VMAs with six wins for Losing My Religion and later added four for Everybody Hurts.
• Justin Timberlake – 11 wins: Justin’s haul includes Video of the Year for Mirrors, multiple wins for Cry Me a River and the Video Vanguard Award.
• Green Day – 11 wins: Boulevard of Broken Dreams powered Green Day’s VMA haul, winning six awards in 2005. 21 Guns added even more to their collection in 2009.

She showed her love for her husband last week while celebrating his touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Out of Style singer was caught on video screaming and clapping as Travis darted across the field to score.

She could also be heard yelling, “That’s my husband!” while pointing at her $1 million wedding ring.

THE VMAs red carpet is known for daring fashion – and celebrities didn’t disappoint.

Stars like Taylor Swift, Teyana Taylor, Charli xcx, and Bebe Rexha lit the carpet on fire with skin-bearing outfits.

Taylor Swift, who is set to accept the inaugural Artist Director Honors award, wore a slinky Tamara Ralph gown.

The pop star paired a sparkly silver skirt with a form-fitting black bodice and mesh side cutouts.

She also showed off her new collarbone length haircut with long, cascading earrings.

Presenter Charli xcx stepped out in an all-black velvet ensemble from Saint Laurent with dramatic, billowing sleeves.

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The low-rise column skirt and tiny top showed off her toned stomach, an a mesh insert covered her chest.

Other stars kept up the black theme.

One Battle After Another actress Teyana Taylor wore a plunging feathered gown from Zuhair Murad, while Bebe Rexha wore an all-black lace look with over the knee boots.

Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink turned heads in a form-fitting red gown and a dramatic furry red cape.

The star is up for four awards tonight and will perform her single SaWaDiKa during the ceremony.

Sombr also kept up the fur theme with an oversized striped jacket over his bare chest.

The pop star accessorized with layered necklaces, black sunglasses, and a bedazzled belt that reads “sex”.

PinkPantheress, who is up for five awards tonight, looked ethereal in tiered Nina Ricci gown.

She paired the burgundy and polka dot dress with light, blushing makeup and a fishtail braid.

Presenter Tyla brought the heat in a blue snakeskin two-piece bra and skirt set from Mowalola.

SNL alum Rachel Dratch wore a structured metallic dress, while sister duo Paris and Nicky Hilton twinned in silver, with presenter Paris rocking tall bedazzled boots and a sparkly mini dress with cut-outs.

Troye Sivan brought the drama in a high-necked Erdem suit with a draped black sash with white feathers.

Singer Normani also went for a metallic look with a large flower embellishment.

Singer Chloe Bailey wore a body-hugging silver dress with intricate beadwork and mirrored embellishments.

The tight bodice on the dress left little to the imagination – including her nipple peeking out the top.

Off Campus star Ella Bright stepped out in a black corseted gown that matched her new dark hair.

Real Housewives star Lisa Rinna debuted a wild new hair look coupled with a white gown with fake nipples.

Singer JoJo paired a black column skirt and bra top for her VMAs appearance.