The annual tight end gathering known as “Tight End University” saw a surprise celebrity guest in this year’s edition. Pop superstar Taylor Swift joined her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, at the festivities.
Kelce founded the event with San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and retired tight end Greg Olsen. This year, they welcomed dozens of fellow tight ends to Nashville and invited their spouses to join as well.
Swift spent several days at the event, including performing at the benefit concert.
Taylor Swift Does Rare Performance for Tight End University
Tight End University is an annual camp that brings together the top players in the tight end positional group to work together to improve their craft.
As part of the festivities, the “Tight Ends and Friends” benefit concert was held on Tuesday, June 24. The concert sold out the Brooklyn Bowl in downtown Nashville, which has a capacity of about 1,200 guests. Kelce and the organizers teased surprise guests, sparking speculation that Swift might make an appearance.
Tickets for the concert were $35 each, and proceeds went to charitable organizations like Kelce’s nonprofit 87 and Running, which helps disadvantaged youths, and The Heartest Yard, which helps kids with congenital heart disease.
Country music singer Kane Brown introduced Swift to a crowd that erupted in cheers and applause. Swift then performed a stripped-down version of her hit “Shake It Off,” dedicating the song to “our favorite players who are going to play, the tight ends.”
This was Swift’s first performance since concluding her Eras Tour six months ago.
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Country singers Chase Rice, Sophia Scott, Jordan Davis, Graham Barham, Niko Moon and Ernest also performed at the concert.
Swift and Kelce also walked the red carpet together one day earlier, holding hands as they walked into the opening ceremony of Tight End University.
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They shared a quick kiss while posing for photos before heading inside. The opening ceremony began with a party, serving as the kickoff for the fifth edition of Tight End University.
The pair has been public about their relationship since September 2023, when Swift attended a regular-season Chiefs game to cheer on Kelce. They also kissed on the field after the Chiefs won Super Bowl 58 in February 2024, and she was in attendance when the Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 earlier this year.
