How Travis Kelce Supported Taylor Swift at the VMAs 2026 from Afar

Jason Sargent Monday, September 28, 2026

Paige Catton Mon, September 28, 2026 at 4:15 AM UTC

Originally appeared on E! Online

Travis Kelceis always Taylor Swift’s cheer captain.

While the Kansas City Chiefs tight end wasn’t able to accompany the Grammy winner to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles Sept. 27, he made sure to send his love and support.

After all, Kelce—who has an away game in Miami—proved he was still seeing his wife’s face in his mind by “liking” social media posts showing Swift on the VMAs blue carpet.

Indeed, eagle-eyed Swifties noticed that the athlete hearted a photoand a video of Swift posted by Billboard on Instagram Sept. 27.

And while Kelce’s NFL schedule kept him from being there in person, his love for Swift was still represented on her special night as the “Patient Zero” artist had her engagement ring and wedding band on display to accompany her show-stopping look.

For the award show, Swift stunned in a form-fitting black halter gown featuring an asymmetrical silver skirt. Along with her rings, she accessorized the look with Leviev diamond earrings.

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And though she didn’t have Kelce by her side, it was truly an enchanting evening for the “Fate of Ophelia” singer as she broke VMA records, becoming the most awarded artist in the show’s history.

Swift achieved the milestone after she won the first-ever recipient of the Artist-Director award, an honor bestowed to a musician “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” according to a press release from MTV.

Michael Owens/Getty Images, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

In fact, her romance with Kelce has become an inspiration for her music, with “Cleveland!”—one of Swift’s four new songs from her Sept. 25 release The Life of a Showgirl: Encore—being about their love story.

"Something we all can agree on / But my baby likes what he likes," she sings on the track. "He already took me to Cleveland / And showed me The Heights, so hate all you like / This is the love of my life."

For more red carpet arrivals at the MTV VMAs, keep reading…

Taylor Swift