One Emmys Surprise: Taylor Swift

The pop star appeared in a pre-taped sketch alongside host Mariska Hargitay
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 15, 2026 12:00 AM CDT
Taylor Swift Appears at the Emmys, Sort Of
Host Mariska Hargitay speaks during the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

There were a few surprises at Monday night's Emmy Awards—including an appearance by Taylor Swift, the AP reports. Host Mariska Hargitay, star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, joined Swift in a pre-taped sketch, in which the pop star played a rookie in the SVU office as the cops got a bit looney. Hargitay's Olivia Benson went through two large crime boards to make connections between Swift's songs and the Emmy-nominated shows to see if she'd attend the telecast. One of the detectives called it a "rabbit hole." "Now, in order to crack a Swifty case, you've got to think like a Swifty, because the Swifties think that everything is a clue to what she'll do next," Benson said.

"Why would she be showing up to the ceremony tonight? She's probably going to be sitting at home playing with those cats she's named after TV show characters," Swift's unnamed character scoffs. Hargitay—as Benson—concludes: "Taylor Swift will not be at the Emmys." Swift offers another option: "Maybe she'll do one those cool, pre-taped sketch things to support the host." The sketch ends with Hargitay posing with Swift—both glaring into the camera, very seriously—bookmarking Swift's cat, named in tribute of Olivia Benson. In reality, Swift was at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night, and sitting alongside Tom Cruise, to watch new husband Travis Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs open the NFL season against the Denver Broncos.

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