Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce reportedly invited 1,000 guests to their wedding at Madison Square Garden. But, the "Father Figure" singer's namesake didn't attend.
The legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor, 78, decided to skip out on the bash, sharing the real reason he skipped the ceremony during his annual Independence Day weekend show with his All-Star Band at the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts.
James' concert marked 52 years since he first performed at Tanglewood, beginning a favorite annual tradition that has become the emotional centerpiece of the festival. And all the proceeds made by James from the holiday concert will be donated, something Taylor and Travis can surely not be mad at.
Even more, Taylor knows a lot about this festival! In 2012, she joined the singer as his surprise guest performer. The two performed his classic song "Fire and Rain," as well as two of Taylor's songs, "Ours" and "Love Story."
© Getty Images"You know, [my wife] and I were invited to a wedding at Madison Square Garden tonight," the singer, who is married to writer Kim Taylor, told the crowd, according to The Berkshire Eagle. He added that he wished Taylor and Travis "happiness and smooth sailing."
Taylor Swift and James Taylor's connection
Taylor's parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, named their oldest daughter after James when she was born on December 13, 1989. Some two decades later, the singer met her namesake.
"We did a benefit for [the Candie's Foundation], an organization that tries to help with teenage pregnancy, and it was interesting," James told USA Today in 2024 about his first time meeting Taylor.
"We were both there with guitars and played a couple of songs," he went on. "I was performing with my wife and may have had a friend of ours playing cello and Taylor was there just playing by herself."
© Getty Images"She was just a teen," the "Your Smiling Face" singer added. "She told me she had listened to my music a lot and that her folks had named her with me in mind."
Taylor, who takes inspiration from many great American songwriters, even included James in one of her hits. In "Begin Again," the closing track on her 2012 album Red, Taylor sings: "You said you never met one girl who had / As many James Taylor records as you / But I do."
Inside Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's guest list
Taylor and Travis tied the knot on Friday, July 3 surrounded by 1,000 of their closest friends, family, and, as the "All Too Well" singer once explained "anyone I've ever talked to." Everyone from Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, to Selena Gomez, Dakota Johnson, and Brad Pitt were in attendance.
© InstagramThe singer's long-time friend, Karlie Kloss, showed up after years of speculation surrounding the status of their once-close friendship. Kansas City Chiefs fan Jason Sudeikis made an appearance. Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran attended, telling her Instagram followers: "Such a love story and the groom is such a hunk. I can't wait to get there and I'm so happy for them."
While 1,000 guests attended the summer wedding, there were a few notable absences. It was reported that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds didn't attend the nuptials after they were spotted on July 2 at their daughter Betty's horse show in Lake Placid, hundreds of miles away from the actual wedding.
© GC ImagesAnd, Taylor's one-time close friends Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh Sperry, who have attended more than a few NFL games with the "Invisible String" singer, weren't spotted at the wedding.
