Taylor Swift once made headlines for reports that asserted she would never accept a Super Bowl Halftime Show performance slot until she was finished re-recording her albums and/or gained full ownership of all her music.
With the latter fulfilled earlier this year, fans of the Pop megastar (affectionately called #Swifties) were wishing, hoping, praying with bated breath for the official announcement she would finally assume the role as the spectacle’s headliner.
And though their hopes were dashed once Bad Bunny was revealed to be 2026’s big Super Bowl performer, news of his capture of the coveted gig was preceded by reports Taylor had already declined.
Look inside to hear if her explanation of the declination aligns with the rumor mill’s.
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Hot on the promo trail in support of her 12th studio album – the October 3-released ‘Life of a Showgirl‘ Swift dropped by ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon‘ on Monday (October 7) to talk about the LP, its lead single ‘Fate of Ophelia,’ engagement to Travis Kelce, and more.
While there, Fallon quizzed her about the rumor she turned down the Super Bowl due to not being able to own the performance footage.
“No,” she answered directly before explaining, “JAY-Z has always been very good to me. Our teams are really close. They sometimes will call and be like ‘How does she feel about [the Super Bowl], and that’s not like an official offer.”
Beyond relaying that there has yet to be an actual “conference room conversation” about her assuming the role of Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner, Taylor made clear she didn’t want to impede of Kelce’s turf and alluded to the belief playing at the spectacle could steal his thunder.
“I’m in love with a guy who does that sport on that actual field. That is violent chess,” she shared. “The whole season I am locked in on what that man is doing on the field.”
There you have it, #Swifties.
Click PLAY on the clip above to hear her full statement on the matter.
Ummm they don’t pay for Superbowl performances Taylor! She’s such a capitalist.
She doesn’t need the supwr bowl, shes already the biggest artist thats walked this earth
LMAO let me know when she has an album sell 70 million copies 🫠
Her team just doesn’t want any business affiliations with Jay-Z and his brand. She’s a “pure white” girl. Doing business with the NFL via Jay-Z, an ex drug dealing rapper, is off brand and beneath her. She doesn’t need the promotion or exposure, so why lay with dogs. There’s no real benefit.
She might not need it but it’ll still put a lot more money in her pockets. 1 thing that girl loves is her money.
The biggest names have been on that stage so it’s definitely not beneath her. I don’t think she’s worried about Jay-Z ruining her image lmao.
She’s not a rapper. Her team doesn’t blindly chase money. Doing business with JayZ isn’t ideal for her brand and her target audience about as far removed from the NFL as you can get.
Your fans don’t have to be fans of the NFL to do the super bowl that’s kinda the point duh and Jay-Z has worked with some fortune 500 companies and major artists outside of rap no 1 is worried about him tarnishing their brand you’re just saying shi+
Sounds like horseshit lol
Does it make a sound?
Of course Penny pingleton is friends with Dean Big brother Almighty. He gave her permission to be a full white version of Beyonce
#AOTY 🏆 2027.
🎞 ACT 3 VS Showgirl 💃
🫙 MAYONNAISE VS HONEY 🍯
I rather watching a bottom bunny humping instead of this mayo chopsticks doing white gurl cheerleader s***.
For the person who said “Her team doesn’t blindly chase money…” WHO are you kidding? With all the variants, merch, and tour tickets? What exactly are they chasing, then? LMAO…