Ed Sheeran & Kylie Kelce Call Taylor Swift the ‘Cheat Code’ for Easy Applause

Kylie Kelce and Ed Sheeran chatted about a mutual friend on the latest episode of the former’s Not Gonna Lie podcast, with the pair agreeing that Taylor Swift is the “cheat code” for getting crowds to be as loud as possible.

The topic of the pop superstar first came up as the British musician was talking about the highest decibel level he’s ever had an audience reach. “We brought on Eminem, and that was the loudest I’ve ever heard a crowd — like, anywhere in the world,” Sheeran told Kelce of a 2023 performance in the rapper’s home city of Detroit.

“There’s never been a louder crowd than that,” he continued. “But I will say it’s because I brought Eminem on stage in Detroit. That’s the cheat code.”

When Sheeran asked Kelce which artist would be the “cheat code” for Philadelphia crowds, the former field hockey player said that it would have to be her brother-in-law’s ultra famous girlfriend. “I mean, I think Taylor, just because it’s home,” Kelce told the four-time Grammy winner, referring to the fact that Swift was born and raised in West Reading, Penn., before moving to Nashville as a teenager.

Sheeran replied, “I kind of think Taylor anywhere, though.”

Both Kelce and Sheeran have first-hand experience with the high-volume crowds Swift draws. The former — who is married to retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce — has known the “Fortnight” singer since 2023, when Swift first started dating Jason’s younger brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Sheeran, meanwhile, has performed on stage with Swift a number of times, including countless nights more than a decade ago on her Red Tour, for which he served as an opening act.

Speaking of the Red trek, Sheeran revealed to Kylie how traveling with Swift turned him into an NFL fan. “I moved to Nashville for Taylor’s Red Tour in 2013, and I got a place there,” he said. “I went to Walmart to buy bits to move in, and I just bought some pajamas. And then when I got home, I was wearing the pajamas, and when someone was around, they were like, ‘Oh, you’re a Titans fan.’ I was like, ‘Guess I am.'”  

The interview comes as Sheeran is gearing up to release his new album, Play, in September. So far, he’s shared three tracks from the LP — “Azizam,” “Old Phone” and “Sapphire.”

His chat with Kylie isn’t the first time he’s spoken about Swift in the lead-up to Play. While guesting on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast in April, he opened up about his friendship with his former tourmate, telling listeners, “I see her when I see her … Like, instead of catching up the whole time, we have a proper sit-down, six-hour catchups, and I think that’s like a really nice way to do it.”

Listen to Sheeran’s full conversation with Kylie below.