Mariska Hargitay Makes History at the Emmys and Picks the Perfect Taylor Swift Song

Mariska Hargitay hosts the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards Monday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. She’s the first woman to host the show in 15 years, since Jane Lynch in 2011. Only four women have ever solo-hosted the Primetime Emmys, and this year Hargitay adds her name to that short list.

During a recent photo shoot with the Los Angeles Times, Hargitay paused and asked the crew to play Taylor Swift’s 2019 song“The Man.”The track, from Swift’s album Lover, takes on gender double standards. When asked about the 15-year hosting gap, Hargitay called it unbelievable and ridiculous, especially with all the brilliant women out there in the industry.

The song request was personal. Hargitay and Swift are longtime friends, and Swift named her cat Olivia Benson after Hargitay’s Law and Order: SVU character. So when she asked for that song, it wasn’t just a mood setter. It was a nod to a friend and a quiet statement about the night ahead. Catch the Emmys Monday night to see how it all comes together.

What song would you play if you were hosting the Emmys? Let us know in the comments.