Additional Coverage:
- Taylor Swift says she won’t perform at the Super Bowl, and Travis Kelce is part of the reason why (businessinsider.com)
Taylor Swift Puts Super Bowl Halftime on Hold for Travis Kelce’s Game Day — And Love
[City, State] – Pop music sensation Taylor Swift has finally addressed the persistent buzz about her potentially headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, confirming on “The Tonight Show” that while there have been talks, no official offer ever materialized. Even if it had, her priorities, she says, are firmly rooted on the football field, supporting her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
During a recent appearance with host Jimmy Fallon to promote her new album, Swift played a game debunking various rumors. Among them was the widely circulated idea that she had turned down a Super Bowl performance due to issues over performance footage rights. Swift clarified the nature of the communications.
“Jay-Z has always been very good to me. Our teams are really close.
They sometimes will call and say, ‘How does she feel about, you know?’ And that’s not like an official offer or like a conference room conversation,” Swift explained to Fallon in the interview.
Jay-Z’s entertainment label, Roc Nation, has been producing the Super Bowl halftime shows since 2019 in partnership with the NFL.
The real reason for her current disinterest in the colossal stage, according to Swift, is her unwavering focus on Kelce. It was announced last month by Roc Nation, the NFL, and Apple Music that Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February 2026.
Swift told Fallon that she needs to concentrate fully on supporting Kelce during his demanding NFL season. “I am in love with a guy who does that sport on that actual field. That is violent chess, that is gladiators without swords, that is dangerous,” she shared, describing the intensity of professional football.
She emphasized her commitment to being “locked in” on his every move. “The whole season, I am locked in on what that man is doing on the field. Can you imagine if he’s like out there, every single week, putting his life on the line, doing this very dangerous, very high-pressure, high-intensity sport, and I’m like, ‘I wonder what my choreo should be?'”
Swift, who announced her engagement to Kelce in August after their relationship began in 2023, added that her decision wasn’t at his behest. “This has nothing to do with Travis. He would love for me to do it, I’m just too locked in,” she stated.
While Swift has never taken the Super Bowl halftime stage, multiple media outlets have reported that she has declined offers to do so on several occasions in the past. Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed his hope last month on NBC’s “Today” show, saying, “We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent, and obviously she would be welcome at any time.”
For now, it seems fans will have to wait for a potential future Super Bowl performance, as Swift’s commitment remains firmly planted in the stands, cheering on her fiancé.