Taylor Swift misses out on Oscar nomination for Cats original song Beautiful Ghosts

The 30-year-old singer wrote the track with Andrew Lloyd Webber
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Isobel Frodsham17 December 2019
The Weekender

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Taylor Swift has missed out on an Oscar nomination for her Cats song Beautiful Ghosts.

The singer, 30, penned the original tune with Andrew Lloyd Webber for the upcoming musical movie.

She wrote the song for Francesca Hayward’s character, Victoria the white cat, which Hayward said was a “surreal” experience.

But despite being nominate for a Golden Globe, Beautiful Ghosts hasn't made the Academy's Best Original Song shortlist, which has been announced ahead of the main nominations.

Taylor Swift (left) and as her character Bombalurina (right) 

Stars who have made the shortlist for include Beyonce for her Lion King track Spirit, and Elton John for his efforts Never Too Late, also from The Lion King remake, and (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again, which featured alongside his greatest hits in Rocketman.

Cynthia Erivo could also become the youngest star to ever bag the EGOT status by winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony - after being nominated for her song Stand Up from the movie Harriet.

The list will also be whittled down again before the ceremony next year.

Here is the shortlist so far:

  • Speechless from Aladdin
  • Letter To My Godfather from The Black Godfather
  • I’m Standing With You from Breakthrough
  • Da Bronx from The Bronx USA
  • Into The Unknown from Frozen II
  • Stand Up from Harriet
  • Catchy Song from The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
  • Never Too Late from The Lion King
  • Spirit from The Lion King
  • Daily Battles from Motherless Brooklyn
  • A Glass of Soju from Parasite
  • (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again from Rocketman
  • High Above The Water from Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
  • I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away from Toy Story 4
  • Glasgow from Wild Rose

Speaking about the Golden Globe nomination, Swift previously told Access Hollywood: “It feels really great. It’s so amazing that they honoured us in this way. Andrew Lloyd Webber is my cowriter on the song and he’s just an absolute wonderful, incredible genius, dream collaborator.

“So the fact that the FBA decided to honour us for this, we’re floating on a cloud, we’re so happy. It really is a song that is an intricate part of the story. The story doesn’t make as much sense without the song…I’m happy to have been a part in creating it.

Cats, The Musical: Film Characters 2019 - In pictures

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Cats - which is due to be released this Friday (December 20) - chronicles the story of a group of alley cats, called the Jellicles, who are aspiring to join the 'Heaviside layer' (their version of heaven) and be born into a new life.

The blockbuster is based on Lloyd-Webber's musical of the same name and has a star-studded cast including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen and Idris Elba.

The 2020 Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 9.

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