Taylor Swift made headlines during her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 6, where she opened up about swirling rumors—including why she won’t be headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. While promoting her record-breaking 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl, Swift addressed speculation that she declined the Super Bowl gig due to performance footage concerns. “No,” she said plainly, before diving into a heartfelt explanation.
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“Jay Z has always been very good to me,” she shared, noting that while informal conversations have happened, there’s never been an official offer. “We’re always able to tell him the truth, which is that I am in love with a guy who does that sport on that actual field.” Referring to fiancé Travis Kelce, Swift described the NFL as “violent chess” and “gladiators without swords,” admitting that watching him play is emotionally intense.
“The whole season I am locked in on what that man is doing on the field,” she said. “Can you imagine if he’s out there every single week putting his life on the line… and I’m like, ‘I wonder what my choreo should be?’” She emphasized, “This is nothing to do with Travis. He would love for me to do it. I’m just too locked in.”
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Swift also debunked another rumor—that she joked to Selena Gomez, “You beat me to the altar,” at her wedding to Benny Blanco. “I made a speech,” she said, “but I actually made a point not to mention anything about my engagement.” Instead, she reminisced about their 2008 fashion choices, calling Selena “the most elegant, gorgeous vision” she’s ever seen.
As for Ed Sheeran learning about her engagement via Instagram? Swift explained, “He doesn’t have a phone that works!” She shared that her method of announcing the news was based on recent texts—so Ed, being off the grid, missed the memo. Swift’s appearance marked her first on Fallon since the Midnights era.
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Her new album The Life of a Showgirl, released October 3, shattered Spotify’s single-day streaming record for 2025. On Instagram, she called it “a self portrait,” thanking Max Martin and Shellback for helping her “paint” it. “If you thought the big show was wild,” she teased, “perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain…” From stadiums to talk shows, Swift continues to blend vulnerability, wit, and star power—on her own terms.