Travis Kelce makes show of support for wife Taylor Swift after missing out on the VMAs


The Kansas City Chiefs tight end tied the knot with the "Patient Zero" singer in July 2026 after three years of dating and nearly a year engaged


Taylor Swift at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards; Travis Kelce plays for the Kansas City Chiefs on September 27, 2026© Getty Images
Ahad Sanwari
Ahad SanwariSenior WriterNew York
43 minutes ago

Taylor Swift made the whole MTV Video Music Awards venue shimmer on September 27.

The singer-songwriter, 36, was one of the night's biggest winners, taking home a total of three prizes, including the coveted Video of the Year for "The Fate of Ophelia," and the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors.

Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson onstage as Swift accepts the Artist Director Honors at 2026 MTV Video Music Awards held at Peacock Theater on September 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.© Getty Images
Taylor Swift had a big night at the 2026 MTV VMAs, from premiering her new music video to taking home three prizes

Although, instead of her husband Travis Kelce as her plus one, she recruited her friend and "Patient Zero" music video co-star Dakota Johnson, who presented her with the latter prize.

Travis Kelce's sweet support for Taylor Swift

Despite not being there in person, however, the NFL tight end, also 36, was able to give his wife a subtle but sweet shoutout on social media.

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Travis liked several social media posts about Taylor's appearance at the ceremony in Los Angeles, including two of Billboard's Instagram posts in which she posed in her Tamara Ralph couture outfit.

The athlete later himself posted a clip recapping yesterday's football game that quickly had fans in the comments citing lyrics from Taylor's newest song "Cleveland!"

Why was Travis not at the VMAs?

While Taylor was in LA accepting her VMAs, Travis was in Miami, joining the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs in their game against the Miami Dolphins.

Billboard's Instagram post about Taylor Swift's arrival to the MTV Video Music Awards© Billboard/Instagram
Travis Kelce went on a liking spree for several Taylor-themed posts

Thanks to a winning touchdown from the tight end himself, the Chiefs managed a strong 24-10 victory against the Dolphins on their own home turf, the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The "Cruel Summer" singer has been cheering from the bleachers in Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs' previous two games, though, joined by her family, her in-laws, and at one point, Tom Cruise.

Taylor's big night at the 2026 VMAs

Taylor tied with BTS for the night's second-most wins, three apiece, taking home her Director Honors, Video of the Year, and Best Direction for "The Fate of Ophelia." She also debuted the music video for her newest single "Patient Zero" at the ceremony.

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a touchdown reception against Chris Johnson #3 and Michael Taaffe #16 of the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.© Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end helped the team score a 24-10 victory against the Miami Dolphins

While accepting the Video of the Year prize, she paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton. "I want to thank and dedicate this award to one person without whom this wouldn't be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl, Dolly Parton. Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich," she said in part.

"We were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time."

Madonna led all nominees heading into the evening with 13, and walked away with the most trophies as well, seven in total. Her biggest wins include Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration for her Sabrina Carpenter duet, and Best Album for Confessions II.

Madonna caught up with many familiar faces at the VMA's including Taylor Swift© Getty Images
Madonna was the night's big winner with seven total trophies

She also opened the ceremony with hits from her acclaimed new record, her first time performing at the VMAs in 23 years, joined by Sabrina and Charli XCX, with the likes of Sombr, Julia Garner, Debi Mazar and Seth Rogen also making cameos.

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