She Picked Her Career Over a Chiefs Game: Inside Taylor’s Oscar Push, Four Songs for the Voters, and Travis on the Patient Zero Set

0:03 Hey everyone, I'm Lila, and welcome back to Taylor Swift Today. This week, Taylor did something that genuinely made me sit up, because she did something she almost never does. She chose her own career over a Chiefs game. And the reason why is a big one, because our girl is officially chasing an Oscar. We have also got some gorgeous behind-the-scenes love from her music video set, and a sweet moment between Taylor and one of her best friends. Lots to unpack, so let's get into it. Let's start with Saturday night, because Taylor Swift walked into one of the most important rooms in Hollywood. She performed at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, a glittering, star-studded fundraiser held by the people behind the Oscars. And this was a genuine milestone because it marked Taylor's very first event ever associated with the Motion Picture Academy. She has conquered the music world many times over, but this was her stepping for the first time into the world of film on its biggest stage.

1:15 And she did not just show up. She closed the entire evening with a performance. She sang her song, I Knew It, I Knew You, the track she wrote for the movie Toy Story 5. Then she picked up a guitar and treated the crowd to her timeless classic Love Story before also performing The Fate of Ophelia from her latest album. The room was packed with A-listers, with everyone from Kim Kardashian to Sabrina Carpenter in attendance, and the night honored legends like Charlize Theron, Coleman Domingo, and the filmmaker John Carpenter. Taylor, performing her heart out in front of a sea of Hollywood royalty, it was a moment...

1:55 But here is the thing. This was not just a fun gig. This was strategy. Because Taylor Swift is mounting a real serious campaign to win her first Academy Award. Her song from Toy Story 5, which she co-wrote with her longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, is eligible for Best Original Song. And it was a genuine hit, debuting at number one on the charts. And here is the stat that surprised me. For all of Taylor's staggering success, the Grammys, the record-breaking tours, the billions of dollars, she has never once been nominated for an Oscar. Not even once. So this would be completely new territory, a brand new kind of trophy for a woman who has basically won everything else. And she is going about it the smart way. That gala is considered a key stop on the awards season circuit, exactly where hopefuls go to charm the people who actually vote.

2:54 It is co-chaired by none other than the legendary director Steven Spielberg, who is reportedly helping open doors for Taylor, the kind of doors even she cannot open alone. Spielberg is a huge admirer of hers. He actually inducted her into the Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year and called her a singular artist with no peer. And awards watchers have noticed that Taylor has been running a quiet, clever campaign, even pointedly not naming the song during her big VMA speeches, keeping the focus exactly where she wants it. This is a woman who knows precisely what she is doing.

3:34 When we come back, the surprising choice Taylor made to pull all of this off and the sweet behind-the-scenes love that will melt your heart. Stay with me. Welcome back. So here is what makes this Oscar push such a notable moment, and it is the part that got everyone talking. In order to perform at that gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night, Taylor made a choice. She skipped the Kansas City Chiefs home game the very next day. Now, if you are a regular listener, you know how big that is. Taylor has been an absolute fixture at Travis's games.

4:24 In fact, this was her first missed Chiefs home game since December of 2024 and her very first missed home game since she and Travis got married back in July. For two seasons, she has been their lucky charm in the stands, with the Chiefs winning the vast majority of games she attends. And right now, Kansas City is sitting pretty at 4-0. So her stepping away, even for one game, is a genuine shift. But honestly, I love what it represents. A source close to Taylor summed it up perfectly, saying that while Taylor absolutely loves cheering for Travis, this particular weekend was about Taylor. He has his career, she has hers, and right now hers involves chasing an Oscar. And that, to me, is the healthiest, most modern picture of a marriage you could ask for. These are two wildly ambitious people at the absolute top of their respective fields, and instead of one person's dreams taking a back seat, they each get to chase their own greatness while cheering the other on. Travis has been her biggest supporter at her shows, and now she gets to go be great on her own stage. No guilt, no competition, just two people rooting for each other to win. That is the dream, really.

5:38 And speaking of Travis supporting her, this leads me perfectly into the most heart-melting story of the week. Taylor has been sharing behind-the-scenes footage from the making of that gorgeous Patient Zero music video she directed. And in a new clip she posted, fans spotted the sweetest thing. There on the set, was Travis showing up to support his wife while she worked with his arms wrapped around her. Now, here is the detail that makes it extra special. That video was actually filmed back in March, months before they got married. So even while she was deep in director mode, bringing her artistic vision to life, there was Travis quietly by her side, cheering her on. It is exactly the dynamic she has described. In fact, Taylor has spoken so beautifully about this She once explained that one of the biggest reasons she and Travis work so well is that he genuinely loves that she makes art and music. She said that he is so passionate about what he does that her being passionate about what she does is actually what connects them. There is no version of Travis, she said, who would ever want her to stop creating. He loves that about her. And when you see him showing up on a random film set in March just to wrap his arms around her between takes, you believe every word of it. And it is not just Travis singing her praises.

7:02 This week, Taylor's dear friend Selena Gomez was asked whether she gives Taylor any marriage advice since Selena recently celebrated her own first wedding anniversary. And Selena's answer was so sweet. She laughed and said she does not need to give Taylor advice because Taylor is probably the best person to give her advice. These two have been close for over 15 years, and Selena has always described Taylor as being like a big sister to her, someone who shows up in the hardest moments. So even as both of them step into married life, that friendship is as strong as ever. It is lovely to see. And of course, I am legally required at this point to remind you, still no wedding dress. We are now nearly four months out. She has given us an Oscar campaign, a gala performance, a short film, an endless behind-the-scenes sweetness, but that one photo of the Dior gown remains locked in the vault. Honestly, at this point, I think she is going to reveal it the exact moment we have all finally stopped asking, which means I should probably keep asking. So there is your week. Taylor stepped onto Hollywood's biggest stage, launched a serious bid for her first Oscar, made a bold and healthy choice to put her own career first for once, and still found time to remind us that her marriage is built on two people lifting each other up. What a stretch. That is our show. I'm Lila. Leave me a comment on Spotify and tell me, do you think Taylor is going to land that first Oscar nomination? I

8:35 am genuinely rooting for her to complete the set. And turn your notifications on because awards season is heating up. The dress is still out there somewhere and Taylor clearly has no plans to slow down. Find us on Facebook too. Just search Taylor Swift today and share this with a friend who would also skip anything for a chance at a golden statue. Thanks so much for hanging out with me today. I'm Lila and I will see you next time.