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To an outsider, Taylor Swift has everything a woman could possibly want.
She's a billionaire chart-topping singer with a haul of awards, an abundance of celebrity friends – including best pal Selena Gomez – a life that affords her luxury travel and a hunky NFL champ for a husband.
But Swift, we are told, isn't satisfied.
For among that exhaustive trophy cabinet, which includes 14 Grammys and an Emmy, is a gaping hole.
Swift, 36, is reportedly hoping to fill it with an Academy Award next year for her song I Knew It, I Knew You for the film Toy Story 5 – and much like her meticulously planned album drops, she is believed to have been busy plotting for the golden trophy.
'Ever since she tied the knot with Travis [Kelce] in July, Taylor has been masterminding how to get an Oscar on her mantle for that song,' an insider told the Daily Mail.
Taylor Swift already has 14 Grammys and an Emmy, and now she wants an Oscar, an insider has told the Daily Mail (pictured at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles on October 17)
Swift, 36, is said to have masterminded a plan to get her hands on the gold statuette for her song I Knew It, I Knew You for the film Toy Story 5
'Her Oscar campaign kicked into high gear in late August when she sang a collection of songs at the Icon Sessions at the Grammy Museum - one of them was I Knew It, I Knew You. That's when everyone was convinced she was serious about winning an Academy Award.
'And this week she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame which was a very savvy move toward getting the Oscar. It proves she is deserving of the award.
'On Sunday, she will be in New York City for a Q&A about I Knew It, I Knew You, so she is taking this really seriously.'
And there is still plenty of work to do.
The source added: 'Taylor is working hard for her Oscar campaign so that means a lot of networking and schmoozing in Los Angeles, she has been there a lot and will continue to be to make sure she gets the gold.'
The single, co-written with Jack Antonoff, is widely considered a major contender for a Best Original Song nomination at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Though the official 99th annual Oscar nominations won't be announced until January 21, and the show is not until March 14, campaigning is already well underway.
From December 7 to 11 there will be preliminary voting. Then on December 15, the Shortlist, which is the first batch of nominees, will be announced. From January 11 to 15 there will be nominations voting. Then, finally on January 21 the official nominations will be announced.
Swift will likely face competition from La Nieve by Guitarricadelafuente and Raül Refree from La Bola Negra, This City May Have Chewed Me Up (But It Hasn't Spit Me Out) by Jesse Eisenberg for The Debut, One Right Here performed as a duet by Andrea Bocelli and Jennifer Hudson for Maserati: The Brothers, and When I'm Home by James Blake and Travis Scott from The Odyssey.
'She has a tough road ahead because a lot of people want Diane Warren's song with Jennifer Hudson and Andrea Bocelli for the Maserati brothers movie to win, so Taylor's Oscar is not a slam dunk,' said our source.
Tough though it may be, Swift is determined.
'Her Oscar campaign kicked into high gear in late August when she sang a collection of songs at the Icon Sessions at the Grammy Museum,' said our source
'This week she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame which was a very savvy move toward getting the Oscar,' said a source. Seen on October 26
After she hit the Icon Sessions at the Grammy Museum, she went to several Hollywood parties and met VIPs at sound designer John Ross's house.
Then, she attended the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 17. The museum is run by the same people who decide on the Oscars.
'She wasn't just a guest, she was also a performer, which proved her commitment to Hollywood and winning an Oscar,' our source said.
'She headlined the evening as the special musical guest. And the smart cookie sang her heart out on stage. This was her first performance with her live band in nearly two years, so it was a big deal, she clearly put a lot of effort into the evening.'
Swift sang some of her classic songs like Blank Space and Love Story, as well as I Knew It, I Knew You.
'Taylor was not paid to perform, she actually paid her musicians to be there, she paid for her own hair, makeup, styling and transportation,' our source said.
At the gala, Swift reportedly schmoozed people like Amy Homma, the Director and President of the Academy Museum and Academy Collection.
'She networked like crazy making sure she properly charmed the Hollywood crowd,' our source said.
Swift also attended the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 17, (pictured) performing her classic songs like Blank Space and Love Story, as well as I Knew It, I Knew You
She reportedly took the opportunity to schmooze the right people like Amy Homma, second from left, the Director and President of the Academy Museum and Academy Collection (L-R Charlize Theron, Colman Domingo and John Carpenter)
'She was eager to see stars like Elle and Dakota Fanning, running up to them and hugging them. Plus she made sure to greet Hollywood icons Joan Cusack, Coleman Domingo, Charlize Theron, Sarah Paulson, all people who have a voice in Hollywood.'
There will be plenty more events and parties no doubt attended by Swift before the nomination process begins.
'Taylor will be working Oscar season like crazy,' said the source. 'Plan to see her everywhere. Taylor will have to really charm the pants off these Oscar voters, which calls for her to be in Los Angeles.'
Her past original songs, such as Carolina for the film Where The Crawdads Sing, reached shortlists, and her music video for All Too Well: The Short Film was submitted for consideration, but neither earned a nomination.
Then there are her nails. Fans think that she has been painting her nails gold for months now in an apparent nod to the famous statuette.
'Taylor drops hints about what is on her mind by the way she paints her nails,' claimed our insider. 'She uses her manicures and nail polish colors as a way to drop Easter Eggs, and fans think she is doing it again with the gold nails.'
After all, in a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Swift confirmed that leaving clues on her nails is one of her favorite ways to hint at upcoming music.
She has also spent time stars including Dakota and Elle Fanning, who run a production company named Lewellen Pictures
Fans think that she has been painting her nails gold in an apparent nod to the statuette
During her Eras Tour, she changed her nail colors to match specific album re-releases or time frames, opting to wear a purple manicure for Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and solid white nails during the Tortured Poets Department leg.
And when she attends her husband's Kansas City Chiefs games, she also paints her nails the team's colors, red and gold.
And winning an Oscar is just a part of a bigger master plan.
'Make no mistake, Taylor is hyper ambitious and she wants to be an EGOT,' said our source, referring to those who have an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony to their names. There are currently 28 EGOT holders, including Audrey Hepburn, Sir Elton John, John Legend and Steven Spielberg.
With multiple Grammys and an Emmy, Swift is halfway to achieving EGOT status. She received her Emmy in 2015 for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media for the AMEX Unstaged: Taylor Swift Experience.
'She is starting with an Oscar win and down the road she will be going for a Tony win,' said our source. 'I am not sure how she will manage that but she sure is clever so I bet she makes her goal.'
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Swift for comment.
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