Taylor Swift Debuts 'Fate of Ophelia' Live at Academy Gala — SkimNews
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- Taylor Swift performed a four-song, black-tie set at the Academy Museum's 6th Annual Gala on Saturday — her first full-band performance since the Eras Tour — with Conan O'Brien introducing her as 'John, Paul, George and Ringo all in one'
- "The Fate of Ophelia" received its first-ever live rendering at the gala; the song was released Oct. 3, 2025, and is positioned as a leading contender for Record of the Year at the 2027 Grammys, for which Recording Academy voters just received their first ballots
- "I Knew It, I Knew You" from Pixar's Toy Story 5 was performed with a full band for the first time (previously only at the Grammy Museum and a Ross House FYC showcase, always as a mash-up); the song is in contention for the 2027 Oscars and for Grammys in song of the year, film soundtrack, and country categories
- Swift opened the set with "Blank Space" and closed with "Love Story," wearing a Ralph Lauren gown and telling the formally dressed crowd, 'Dancing is absolutely allowed. It's not mandatory, but it's more fun'
- Swift's backing crew included two sax players, four singers, a guitarist, bassist, keyboard player, and drummer; longtime collaborator Paul Sidoti posted on Instagram it was the first time he had played with Swift since the Eras Tour, noting they have been 'onstage partners' for 19 years
Why it matters: Swift used a black-tie museum gala to put two major awards-season contenders — a top Record of the Year hopeful at the 2027 Grammys and a 2027 Oscars entry — in front of a live audience for the first time with her full band, effectively converting the Academy Museum fundraiser into a high-profile campaign stop. The reunion with her touring crew, capped by Sidoti's 19-year milestone, marks the first concrete signal that the post-Eras Tour band is reassembled.
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