Taylor Swift revealed why she won't perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, noting it has "nothing to do" with her NFL star fiancé, Travis Kelce.
Newsweek reached out to Kelce's representative for comment on Tuesday via email outside regular working hours.
Why It Matters
The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most coveted live entertainment stages worldwide, attracting top performers and massive audiences each year. Taylor Swift, one of this era's biggest pop stars, has long been the subject of speculation regarding a potential halftime performance.
What To Know
Swift addressed speculation about her participation in the Super Bowl halftime show during her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday. Swift clarified that she was never formally offered the role, although her management did receive informal outreach from Roc Nation, the company founded by Jay-Z that coordinates the Super Bowl's entertainment acts. Swift explained that her decision is not related to Kelce, who is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, or any contract issues over performance footage rights.
"This is nothing to do with Travis," Swift—who released her latest album The Life of a Showgirl on Friday—told host Jimmy Fallon. "The whole season, I am locked in on what that man is doing on the field. Can you imagine if he's out there every single week putting his life on the line... and I'm like, 'I wonder what my choreo should be.'"
Swift emphasized that her attention during football season remains focused on Kelce's demanding schedule and safety, rather than planning a high-profile halftime performance.
Addressing footage rights rumors, Swift said the suggestion that she turned down the show due to the NFL withholding ownership of the performance video is false. "Jay-Z has always been very good to me," she clarified. "Our [business] teams are really close."
What People Are Saying
During an appearance on the Today show in September, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praised Swift, calling her a "special talent" and saying that the league would be happy to have her on stage in the future: “We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent, and obviously she would be welcome at any time.”
What Happens Next
The NFL ultimately selected Bad Bunny as the halftime performer for Super Bowl LX, scheduled to broadcast on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock on February 8, 2026.
Update 10/7/25, 4:05 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
