For now, a Super Bowl halftime performance isn't on pop sensation Taylor Swift's wish list. Swift debunked rumors that she had declined the Super Bowl halftime show due to concerns over ownership rights of the performance footage during an interview on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" on Monday. Some speculated that Swift could have been a leading contender for Super Bowl LX, but she appeared to set the record straight, indicating that no formal offer had ever been extended. Three-time Grammy winner Bad Bunny was unveiled as the headliner back in September.
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation holds the responsibility of selecting the halftime show performer. Swift mentioned that she maintains a good rapport with Jay-Z and his team, which has occasionally sparked informal discussions about the show. "They sometimes call up and ask how she feels about the (mumbles) Super Bowl, but that’s far from an official offer or a formal meeting," Swift remarked. "We're always candid with him, telling him the truth—that I'm head over heels for a guy who plays that exact sport on that very field. It's like violent chess, gladiators without swords, perilous stuff. All season long, I'm riveted by what that man is doing out there."
Since she started dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in 2023, Swift has become a frequent spectator at Chiefs games. She revealed that Kelce "would absolutely adore" it if she took on the Super Bowl halftime show, but she's opted not to. "Can you picture him out there every week, risking his life in this highly dangerous, high-pressure, intense sport, while I'm preoccupied with, 'I wonder what my dance moves should be?'" Swift quipped. "I'm just too engrossed."
Swift delved into her newfound passion for football during an August 13 episode of the "New Heights" podcast, hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce. It turned out that the podcast appearance was more than just a chance to shatter viewership records (amassing 1.3 million concurrent viewers on YouTube) and unveil Swift’s latest album, "The Life of a Showgirl." Swift disclosed to Fallon that Travis proposed to her right after they finished filming the episode. He used it as a "diversion" while the backdrop for the proposal was being arranged outside.
"Every time he hosts the podcast, it's not like he covers all the windows. There were completely blacked-out drapes on every window of the house," Swift recounted. "He was pacing around, a bit anxious about the podcast. He said, 'My heart's pounding... I know how much this means to you. I really want this to be everything you hoped for.'
"I've never seen this guy nervous, ever. He's a pro at staying calm," Swift added.
She said it all clicked later when Kelce popped the question. The couple announced their engagement on Instagram on August 26 with the caption, "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are tying the knot."
