Taylor Swift was back at Travis Kelce’s home, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium, on September 5 for the NFL season opener.
The singer and songwriter, who was taking a break from her record-breaking “Eras Tour,” rocked a double-denim look, complete with a Versace corset. Her thigh-high Giuseppe Zanotti boots, which seemed perfectly tailored to her long legs, and lipstick were a subtle nod to the team’s red color.
Swift’s confidence was on display as she walked past the photo pool. We imagine she was chanting in her head, “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs…” as she did every step of the way. (Some of that bravado could have been a wordless response to the fake Kelce-Swift split plan that’s been circulating this week.) They left hand-in-hand after the game, with insiders saying they were “solid.”
This month marks one year since Swift went public with the relationship, attending her first Chiefs game in September 2023. It’s different from her previous romances in all the right ways, Taylor Swift Is Life: A Super Fan’s Guide to Everything We Love About Taylor Swift author Kathleen Perricone told Yahoo Entertainment.
“For the first time in her life, she’s with a man who is a) on her level and b) on her level but not in her world. There’s no competition. There’s no crossover — unless he suddenly picks up a guitar or she picks up a football,” Perricone said.
“That’s why they can support each other,” the author said.
Fans saw that support not only at the Chiefs opener, but also at the 13 games Swift attended last season. Kelce has been to 14 of Swift’s international tour stops so far.
What’s also different about this year-long relationship is how Kelce — who made the first move, made his infamous friendship bracelet for Swift, and then gave her a shout-out on his New heights podcast in July 2023 — is how he, like the rest of the world, seems to be impressed by her talent. Perricone points to a moment over the summer when Kelce followed Swift backstage after a show in Europe and used his hand gestures to praise her to cheering fans.
“She’s never, ever, ever, ever had a man who was so openly proud to be with her,” she said. “I think we didn’t know much about her last relationship,” with British actor Joe Alwyn, “because he was apparently very private. I think maybe she didn’t feel like she could shine. To quote her, she wasn’t ‘bejeweled.’ And Travis really does. He seems to really respect her and that’s obviously the basis of any good relationship.”
Perricone continued, “I have no idea what’s in store for them, but I hope it works out because it gives me hope that you can find that — where someone just loves and respects you. Looking at the guys she’s dated in the past, I would never have paired her with someone like him — despite ‘You Belong With Me’ and the cheerleader quarterback aspect of it. It just works.”
Successful women are held to such a gross double standard, even when it comes to relationships, and that has undoubtedly been the case for Swift. Last summer, an op-ed in Newsweek written by John Mac Ghlionn declared that the 14-time Grammy winner is not a good role model because she is “unmarried and childless.” Of course, not long after, Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance made his polarizing “childless cat ladies” comment. Swifties everywhere were quick and cool to respond to both.
In her research on Swift, Perricone saw countless examples of the higher standards Swift is held to, and yet she has continued to thrive.
“I actually didn’t read the Newsweek story because it made me so angry,” Perricone said. “All I had to do was look at the headlines. … This isn’t 1888. It was such a ridiculous [story]. Marriage and children are not the most important thing to happiness, contentment and fulfillment as a person. Swift literally makes billions of dollars, every city she tours in benefits financially and the money goes to charity. And that’s not to mention the fact that she makes millions of people around the world happy for three and a half hours every night. And that’s what you’re after her for?”
She added: “We know that negative stories, not positive ones, get the most engagement and attention.”
Taylor Swift Is Life: A Superfan’s Guide falls into the positive category because it shines a light on the entertainer’s inspiring life. In addition to frameable illustrations of Swift in all her glory days, it chronicles her rise to and then complete domination of the music industry. It delves into her discography with a chapter dedicated to Easter eggs and “Taylorscopes” for each astrological sign.
Superfans will love “Swiftology A to Z,” a compendium of Taylorisms including her love of arm lyrics, maple lattes, glitter gel pen songs and more. It also chronicles how Swift has amplified her voice on issues important to her in her 30s — as many hope she’ll lend her support in the 2024 presidential race.
Perricone sees the guide – the first in publisher Quarto’s new Modern Icons series, the next generation of the bestselling Little people, big dreams books — as a great collectible for Swifties.
“The way it’s presented — the ‘invisible string,’ as Taylor calls it — makes it fun to read, but you’d also want to display it with your collectibles or merchandise of hers. It has a keepsake feel,” she said.
For those who haven’t devoured every song on every album — and connected them to everything known about her life and loves — or who’ve rolled into an “Eras Tour” show with a sleeve full of bracelets and an “A lot going on at the moment” T-shirt, this is an easy way to see what she’s about and what she’s all about.
“It teaches people — whether you’re a superfan and you know everything, or your kids are fans and you want to know more, or you don’t know anything at all,” Perricone said. “Eleven albums in, it’s overwhelming to know where to start. This breaks it down to better understand the myth, the legend, the folklore of Taylor Swift.”
Taylor Swift Is Life: A Superfan’s Guide is now for sale. Editions featuring Harry Styles and Beyoncé will be available from October 8 and can be pre-ordered now.
