Taylor Swift has a compelling reason for not taking the stage at the NFL Super Bowl halftime show anytime soon.
The NFL’s annual championship game is famous for its halftime show, which has featured some of the biggest names in the music industry over the years.
Globally, audiences have enjoyed extraordinary performances by legends such as Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in the 1990s, with more recent acts including Paul McCartney, Prince, Madonna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. These performances have added a significant pop culture dimension to the sporting event.
Despite this illustrious lineup, one major artist is conspicuously absent: Taylor Swift, a winner of 14 Grammy Awards.
Swift’s Eras Tour has proven her ability to command a stadium audience, as she thrilled 96,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia in a single evening last year.
So why hasn’t she performed at the NFL? Especially considering she’s often spotted supporting her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, from the stands after they announced their engagement this summer.
Swift recently addressed this question after Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny was confirmed for the upcoming show in February, a decision that stirred some controversy from President Trump.
During an extended segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (October 6), the ‘Is It Over Now?’ artist clarified that she has never received an official invitation to perform.
“Jay-Z has always been very good to me; our [business] teams are really close,” she mentioned, noting that Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s company responsible for organizing Super Bowl performances, has reached out in the past.
“They sometimes will call and say, ‘How does she feel about… you know…'” Swift hinted, referring to the Super Bowl. “But that’s not like an official offer or a conference-room conversation.”
Fallon questioned if her decision was due to the NFL’s policy on performance footage rights, given that Swift acquired her music and content rights earlier this year, which she denied.
“I am in love with a guy who does that sport on that actual field,” she explained. “Like, [his sport] is violent chess. That is gladiators without swords. That is dangerous.”
She continued, “Throughout 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, doing this very dangerous, very high-pressure, high-intensity sport, and I’m like, ‘I wonder what my choreo should be? I think we should do two verses of ‘Shake It Up’ into ‘Blank Space’ into ‘Cruel Summer.’ Would be great!’”
Kelce’s team has secured three Super Bowl victories, in 2020, 2023, and 2024.
Despite this, Swift emphasized that her choice is not influenced by Kelce, stating he would be enthusiastic about her performing.
“I’m just too locked in,” she summarized.
She also shared with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2 that she has no plans to retire from music after marrying Kelce. Both are dedicated to their passions, performing for extended periods in large venues.
“For him, it’s practice. For me, it’s rehearsal. For him, it’s a game. For me, it’s a show. We just call them different things,” Swift stated.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed the league’s interest in having Swift perform, describing her as a “special, special talent.”
“And obviously she would be welcome at any time,” he added.