Travis Kelce has publicly praised Taylor Swift’s new track “Cleveland!” during the latest episode of his podcast with brother Jason.
The Kansas City Chiefs star, 36, recorded Wednesday’s “New Heights” episode alongside Jason, 38, and both men offered glowing reviews of the song Swift, 36, released last Friday as part of a four-track “Encore” add-on to her album. Travis addressed the track directly, saying, “Cleveland is rocking right now!”
“Shout out to Tay Tay for making that song, just giving the city a little more life,” the tight end continued on the podcast.
Jason, the former Philadelphia Eagles center, matched his younger brother’s enthusiasm. “Dude, that song is incredible,” he said. The retired lineman noted that the song has become a fixture in his own household, explaining, “Kylie and I have been listening to it so much. There’s just something about it that makes you feel real good. It’s a great song.”
The brothers’ unanimous praise arrives after some online listeners reacted coolly to the surprise release, with a portion of Swift’s fanbase questioning whether the material should have remained unreleased. The Kelces’ endorsement stands in contrast to that skepticism and marks their latest public support for Swift’s creative output.
“Cleveland!” contains direct references to Travis’s upbringing in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, including a specific nod to his childhood residence. Swift sings, “that house with the porch is where he lived as a kid,” and later declares, “My baby likes what he likes / He already took me to Cleveland / And showed me The Heights! / So hate all you like / This is the love of my life.”
This is not the first time Swift has woven Travis into her music. The couple, who wed July 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, previously saw their relationship referenced in “Wood,” a track from Swift’s original “Life of a Showgirl” album released October 3. That song featured notably explicit lyrics about her then-fiancé, including the lines, “Forgive me, it sounds cocky / He (ah!)matized me / And opened my eyes / Redwood tree / It ain’t hard to see / His love was the key / That opened my thighs.”
The brothers addressed those provocative lyrics on their October 8 podcast episode, laughing together as they discussed the song’s content. Travis offered measured praise at that time, remarking, “It’s a great song,” before adding, “Any song, you know, that she references me in is very … I love that girl, what do you mean? Any song that she would reference me in any way…”
Swift and Kelce’s engagement was announced August 26, roughly ten months before their summer wedding. A source familiar with the couple said in August that the newlyweds “both still light up when they refer to each other as husband and wife, and there’s something really exciting and special about that for them.” The source added, “They’re just incredibly happy to be in this next chapter together and are enjoying figuring out what their new normal looks like.”
The “Encore” release that includes “Cleveland!” also features three additional new songs: “Patient Zero,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon.”
The Chiefs will face the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 21.