Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially engaged, which means that she is finally entering her bridal era. But before Taylor Swift’s gorgeous engagement ring, there was the very public meet-cute. Their relationship has played out like something from a rom-com, starting with a public declaration on a podcast, to many Eras Tour moments, and now, a gorgeous (and very sparkly) engagement ring.
Their love story began in July 2023, when Kelce bought a ticket to Swift’s Eras Tour stop in Kansas City. Thinking he could just talk his way backstage since he regularly plays football games there, he had a very clear intention from the outset. A few days later, he admitted as much on on his New Heights podcast, which he hosts alongside his brother, Jason Kelce.
As the story goes, Travis had planned to give the singer a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it, but never managed to get it to her. It makes sense, since Swift likely has some of the strictest security in the industry, being quite literally one of the most famous people in the world. The bold move, however, didn’t go unnoticed. Swift has since revealed that she took note immediately, admitting that the bold gestures were everything she’d always wanted a man to do for her.
The same can be said for him declaring his goal of dating her on his podcast. “This podcast has done a lot for me,” Swift said when appearing on New Heights in early August. “This podcast got me a boyfriend, since Travis decided to use it as his personal dating app about two years ago.”
That’s not to say she wasn’t hesitant at first. “This dude didn’t get a meet and greet, and he’s making it everyone’s problem. That’s what I thought at first,” she laughed. But once friends started vouching for Kelce, she realised he might be worth giving a chance. “I knew he wasn’t crazy the first couple of times that we talked… Travis is just a vibe booster in everyone’s life that he’s in. He’s like a human exclamation point.”
By September 2023, their romance was public when Swift was spotted cheering Kelce on at a Chiefs game. Since then, the pair have supported each other’s careers — Swift regularly in the stands at his games, and famously flew back from her Japan Eras Tour dates for one day to attend his winning Super Bowl Game in 2024. Kelce also joined her on stage during her tour and hasn’t made it a secret how in awe he is about everything she does, from her song writing talents to her intellect. Refreshingly, their relationship is clearly packed with playful humour and a rock solid love and respect for one another, which is all anyone could ask for (especially the Swifties, who have been on this journey alongside her for decades).
Now, their relationship is officially heading into its next era. On August 26, 2025, the couple confirmed their engagement with an Instagram post from an enchanting floral garden. Their caption was enough to make everyone swoon (“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married”) and the ring, which is believed to feature a blinding 10-carat old mine cut diamond as the central stone, is perfect.
Two years on from a friendship bracelet that never found its way backstage, Swift and Kelce have finally found their forever love together, and we’re just so thrilled for them.
