The loudest cheers during the live recording at the Orpheum Theater on Monday weren’t aimed at Travis Kelce, his brother Jason, or any special guests. Instead, the applause was for someone who wasn’t even there.
A packed house in downtown Los Angeles gathered for a special session of the Kelce brothers’ popular podcast. They anticipated laughter, stories, and perhaps a surprise visitor. What unfolded was a surprise mention of Taylor Swift, demonstrating that even her absence could dominate the atmosphere.
As the hosts reminisced about memorable podcast moments, the crowd erupted during a segment focused on Kelce’s notoriously selective eating habits. Jason’s wife Kylie had joked in the past about Swift helping Travis broaden his palate, but producer Brandon Borders—often called “Intern Brandon”—interjected humorously, suggesting that Swift was probably just making airplane sounds for him like a toddler.
Footage played showing Swift seated next to Travis in what seemed to be a restaurant, playfully making those airplane sounds while feeding him a bite of spaghetti. Kelce’s cheeky response—a middle finger to the camera—sent the audience into fits of laughter.
This week, Swift was in New York for a notable event, absent from this recording. Yet, her image was displayed in the theater, reimagined alongside Kelsey in a nod to the film *Pretty Woman*, with the caption, “He walked off the field, entered her life and stole her heart.”
Reports indicate that Swift and Kelsey are set to wed on July 3rd at Madison Square Garden in New York. She was seen with him recently at a Cleveland Cavaliers game.
During the live event, unexpected appearances by Will Ferrell, NFL player Myles Garrett, and soccer star Alex Morgan added to the excitement. Morgan even took a penalty kick on stage with Jason diving to save it, and Travis participated in a kick that scored against his brother.
The “New Heights Live in LA” episode will air on June 17th on platforms like YouTube and Prime Video. Yet, it was truly Taylor Swift who, despite not being there, captured everyone’s attention.
