Travis Kelce Explains Why He & Taylor Swift Traded Coachella’s Backstage Area to Enjoy Pit With Fans

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s presence at the opening weekend of Coachella 2024 has been one of the buzziest parts of the festival so far, with fans online going wild over clips of the couple laughing, kissing, holding hands and dancing while enjoying the star-studded lineup together from the pit. And in the Wednesday (April 17) episode of his New Heights podcast, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end debriefed the outing for his older brother and co-host, retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. 

“I absolutely love live music,” began Travis, who is also set to host of Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity. “I don’t get enough of it in my life. It was fun getting out there and seeing a few new bands that I really wasn’t that familiar with but became an absolute lover of their music because of how they performed and captivated the crowd. The Bleachers — our guy Jack Antonoff — absolutely ripped it. I had so much fun seeing him go nuts with his guitar and all his boys.” 

Cameras captured Swift adorably kissing and dancing with Travis in what appeared to be a backstage area during her frequent collaborator’s set on Saturday (April 13). The couple also spent time with Antonoff and his band before their set and snapped a photo with some of the guys, which drummer Sean Hutchinson posted on Instagram a few days later. 

When it came to Ice Spice’s showcase later that night, however, the athlete and his superstar girlfriend opted to watch with the rest of the crowd from the pit. “I like to see it from the fans’ perspective, ‘cause I am, I’m a fan of music,” Travis explained. “I want to see it from the front of the stage.”  

“We probably could’ve finessed it that way,” he continued, referring to the more secluded locations from which he and Swift could’ve viewed the rapper’s performance. “But I think it’s that much more of an experience if you’re in the pit, if you’re in the madness with all the fans.” 

Travis isn’t kidding when he says he’s a big live music guy — the Ohio native is set to host his second-ever Kelce Jam festival in May, featuring a self-curated lineup led by Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and Diplo. “Live music is something I never pass up on,” he told Billboard earlier this month. “The list just goes on, and the genres vary everywhere. I’m a real music lover.” 

The brothers also took a moment to thank Swift for supporting their podcast with her Coachella outfit, which featured a baseball cap from the Kelces’ New Heights merch store. “Sold out of the green hat real quick,” Jason said, noting that the accessory has since been restocked on their website. 

“It’s a good color, green,” mused Travis. “She’s supporting the New Heights!” 

Watch Travis talk about Coachella on New Heights below.