Taylor Swift says no to Super Bowl Halftime Show: Cites emotional focus on Travis Kelce and joy over record breaking ‘Showgirl’ album
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI Global Desk | Oct 07, 2025, 20:58 IST
Taylor Swift Explains Why She Turned Down the Super Bowl Halftime Show | “Nothing to Do with Travis”
( Image credit : ANI )
Highlight of the story: Taylor Swift confirmed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that she won’t perform at the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show and it’s not because of fiancé Travis Kelce. Citing emotional focus and personal choice, Swift joked about the “violent chess” of watching Kelce play. She also shared sweet anecdotes about Selena Gomez’s wedding and her engagement reveal to Ed Sheeran, all while celebrating her record-breaking album The Life of a Showgirl.
Taylor Swift has officially put the rumors to rest she’s not performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and it has nothing to do with her fiancé, NFL star Travis Kelce.
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday night, the pop superstar joined Fallon for a playful round of rumor-busting while promoting her new album, The Life of a Showgirl. When asked if she turned down the halftime gig because of “performance footage,” Swift replied with a firm “No,” before offering a candid explanation that blended humor and heart.
“Here’s the thing,” she said. “Jay-Z has always been very good to me. Our teams are close, so they’ll sometimes ask how I feel about things but that’s not an official offer. And the truth is, I’m in love with a guy who plays on that field.”
Swift went on to explain that watching Kelce play each week is emotionally taxing enough. “That is violent chess. Gladiators without swords,” she laughed. “The whole season I’m locked in on what that man is doing out there. Can you imagine trying to plan choreography while worrying if he’s okay? I couldn’t.”
She emphasized that her decision was purely personal: “This is nothing to do with Travis… he would love for me to do it. I’m just too locked in.”
During the episode, Swift also opened up about attending Selena Gomez’s recent wedding to Benny Blanco. Dispelling another rumor, she said she didn’t crack a joke about Gomez beating her to the altar. “Selena was the most stunning bride I’ve ever seen,” Swift said, adding that her wedding toast focused on their teenage friendship and 2008 fashion memories, not her own engagement.
Swift, who announced her engagement to Kelce earlier this year, also revealed that close friend Ed Sheeran found out about it the same way everyone else did on Instagram. “He doesn’t have a working phone!” she laughed. “When the news broke, I realized, oh no, we forgot to call Ed!”
Her Tonight Show appearance marked Swift’s first late-night sit-down since the Midnights era in 2022. It capped off a whirlwind week for the singer, whose new album The Life of a Showgirl shattered Spotify’s single-day streaming record within 11 hours of release.
On Instagram, Swift called the project “a self-portrait painted with the people who know me best,” thanking longtime collaborators Max Martin and Shellback. “If you thought the big show was wild,” she teased, “perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain.”
FAQs
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday night, the pop superstar joined Fallon for a playful round of rumor-busting while promoting her new album, The Life of a Showgirl. When asked if she turned down the halftime gig because of “performance footage,” Swift replied with a firm “No,” before offering a candid explanation that blended humor and heart.
“Here’s the thing,” she said. “Jay-Z has always been very good to me. Our teams are close, so they’ll sometimes ask how I feel about things but that’s not an official offer. And the truth is, I’m in love with a guy who plays on that field.”
Swift went on to explain that watching Kelce play each week is emotionally taxing enough. “That is violent chess. Gladiators without swords,” she laughed. “The whole season I’m locked in on what that man is doing out there. Can you imagine trying to plan choreography while worrying if he’s okay? I couldn’t.”
She emphasized that her decision was purely personal: “This is nothing to do with Travis… he would love for me to do it. I’m just too locked in.”
During the episode, Swift also opened up about attending Selena Gomez’s recent wedding to Benny Blanco. Dispelling another rumor, she said she didn’t crack a joke about Gomez beating her to the altar. “Selena was the most stunning bride I’ve ever seen,” Swift said, adding that her wedding toast focused on their teenage friendship and 2008 fashion memories, not her own engagement.
Swift, who announced her engagement to Kelce earlier this year, also revealed that close friend Ed Sheeran found out about it the same way everyone else did on Instagram. “He doesn’t have a working phone!” she laughed. “When the news broke, I realized, oh no, we forgot to call Ed!”
Her Tonight Show appearance marked Swift’s first late-night sit-down since the Midnights era in 2022. It capped off a whirlwind week for the singer, whose new album The Life of a Showgirl shattered Spotify’s single-day streaming record within 11 hours of release.
On Instagram, Swift called the project “a self-portrait painted with the people who know me best,” thanking longtime collaborators Max Martin and Shellback. “If you thought the big show was wild,” she teased, “perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain.”
FAQs
- Why did Taylor Swift decline the Super Bowl Halftime Show?She said it was a personal decision she’s too focused on watching Travis Kelce play during the season.
- Did Travis Kelce want her to perform?Yes, Swift said Kelce would have loved for her to do it, but she chose not to for personal reasons.
- What other rumors did Swift address during the interview?She denied joking about Selena Gomez’s wedding and shared that Ed Sheeran found out about her engagement via Instagram.