Noor Nanji
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

She’s one of the biggest music artists on the planet. He’s an American football superstar.

Both are hugely successful in their respective fields, with sizeable - although different - fortunes.

Last year, Taylor Swift joined the world's wealthiest people on a billionaire’s list.

Together, they are a social media juggernaut with huge star power. And their worlds have come together in some surprising ways.

The Swift-Kelce media coverage exploded when the singer first attended a Kansas City Chiefs game in 2023.

The romance led to Kelce's jersey sales skyrocketing, NFL viewership numbers got a bump and the league's middle-aged male-dominated audience has been joined by the Swifties - die-hard fans of the singer-songwriter.

But the real way you know you've got real star power is when social media has come up with a collective nickname for your relationship.

Together they are Tayvis, Traylor, Swelce or maybe even 'TNT'.

Image source, Reuters

So, how did we get here?

Let's take a brief look back at the couple's relationship:

It all kicked off in July 2023, when Kelce revealed on his podcast - New Heights - that he'd tried to meet Swift after attending an Era's Tour concert.

Fast forward two months to September, and Swift was spotted - alongside Kelce's mum - attending a Kansas City Chiefs game.

Then, in October, the pop star attended another Chiefs game - this time accompanied by a host of celebrity friends including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Sophie Turner and Sabrina Carpenter.

Kelce then returned the favour the next month, making an appearance at Taylor Swift's Eras tour, alongside the singer's dad Scott.

It was only in December 2023 that Swift spoke publicly about her relationship with the NFL star, telling Time magazine about how their relationship had blossomed.

From then, their public appearances started to ratchet up. In February 2024, Swift attended the Super Bowl in support of her partner, with their public displays of affection producing some viral photographs.

They went to Coachella as a couple in April 2024, then Kelce was debuted on Swift's Instagram in June.

And 2025 saw the couple go from strength to strength, with Swift making her second appearance at the Super Bowl, and on the podcast where Kelce first expressed his interest in Swift. A full circle moment.

Image source, Taylor Swift/ Travis Kelce

A florist to the stars has offered resounding praise for the elaborate setting of the couple's engagement photos.

"The florals used are beautiful, personal and poetic" says Jeff Leatham, a florist whose clientele includes the Kardashians and Oprah Winfrey.

"It is beyond perfect for her" he tells the BBC, "like a beautiful, hidden secret garden"

"Could not have been better and the perfect setting for them."

Leatham sends his congratulations to the happy couple: "I am so happy for them both".

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter

Taylor Swift may be basking in her engagement for now, but the singer will soon be busy promoting her new album.

Earlier this month, she revealed details of the record.

Speaking on Kelce's New Heights podcast, she said she was in "the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place" when writing the record.

On the same podcast, Kelce said the album is "upbeat" and will make people dance. He called it a 180-degree turnabout from her last album, The Tortured Poets Department.

"Life is more upbeat," Swift said in response, smiling and looking at Kelce.

Sickly sweet? You got it. And no wonder.

Now we know they’re engaged to be married, it all suddenly makes so much sense.

Mark Savage
Music correspondent

In the two hours since Taylor Swift announced her engagement on Instagram, more than 13 million people have liked her post.

That puts her on a fast-track to having one of the site's most-liked photos of all time.

The all-time record is currently held by Lionel Messi, whose photo of his teammates celebrating their 2022 World Cup win has been liked 79 million times.

Watch this space!

The couple have opted for a fairy tale garden scene for their engagement photoshoot, appearing visibly emotional in the pictures, surrounded by dozens of white and pink roses.

The joint Instagram post offers plenty for fans to feast their eyes on. Take a look:

Image source, Taylor Swift / Travis Kelce

Image source, Taylor Swift / Travis Kelce

Image source, Taylor Swift / Travis Kelce

Image source, Taylor Swift / Travis Kelce

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter

Announcing her engagement, Taylor Swift wrote: "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married."

But why?

Well, many fans have considered Swift to be giving off English teacher vibes because of the literary references that pepper her lyrics.

And NFL star Travis Kelce has been called a gym teacher by some Swifties - because of his glittering sporting career.

Fans have been mostly thrilled, with one writing on X that the caption “couldn’t sound more like them”.

Others have flooded the internet with memes, while some are less impressed.

One X user calls the caption “lame and disrespectful to English teachers and gym teachers simultaneously”, and accused the pair of “cosplaying normal people”.

Image source, Reuters

The National Football League (NFL) has taken to Instagram not once, but twice, to cheer on the newly engaged couple.

"What a journey" it writes, while sharing a video compilation of Swift attending Kelce's NFL games over the course of their two-year relationship.

The account has also reposted an old video of Swift and Kelce celebrating his Super Bowl win in February last year, in which he turns to Swift and says: "I can't believe this is happening".

"Same," writes the NFL.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Here at the White House, we're nearly three hours into a cabinet meeting.

The second question from reporters in the room was about Swift and Kelce's engagement.

"I wish them a lot of luck," Trump says. "I think he's a great player. A great guy. And I think she's a terrific person."

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Of course, Travis Kelce didn’t come first.

Taylor Swift has also been romantically linked with a number of other men, including The 1975 singer Matty Healy.

It was widely reported, though never confirmed, that her last album, The Tortured Poets Department, detailed her break-up from him.

Her upbeat song London Boy has often been seen as an ode to another British ex, the actor Joe Alwyn.

Other former beaus include Harry Styles, Jake Gyllenhaal and John Mayer, and they are all long thought by fans to have been subjects of songs in the past.

Image source, Getty Images

Brittany Mahomes – co-owner of the National Women’s Soccer League team Kansas City Current and wife of Travis Kelce's teammate, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes - has also celebrated the announcement.

"Two of the most genuine people meet & fall in love" she says on the post on Instagram.

"Just so happy for these two".

Mahomes has been seen frequently hanging out with Kelce and Swift, including most recently at the US Open.

Noor Nanji
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Within an hour of it going up, Taylor Swift's post already had more than six million likes.

That shows what a massive deal this is for her global fanbase.

And it’s not just because she’s a superstar.

It’s also because of the brand that she’s cultivated over many years. Much of her song writing and back catalogue has been about her previous relationships, with fans - and I count myself among them - poring over the lyrics to try and guess who the subjects of her songs are.

We’ve heard her sing about her breakups, her heartbreaks, and her ways of coping with them – and we’ve been there every step of the way for her.

Now, the love story that she’s sung about is playing out in front of our eyes. And that’s why fans are reacting with such emotion today.

From football games, concerts to late-night spots, here’s Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's story in photos.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Avril Lavigne has taken to Instagram to congratulate the newly engaged couple.

"Awww huge congratulations" writes the singer, reposting their engagement snap with a string of diamond ring and heart emojis.

Image source, Reuters

Near the beginning of her appearance on the New Heights podcast, Swift was asked why she chose to appear on the show, which caters primarily to sports fans.

"This podcast got me a boyfriend," she said, accusing Travis of using the broadcast as his "personal dating app" to connect with her.

Before they even met, Kelce famously gushed on the podcast about attending one of Swift's concerts and being disappointed when they couldn't meet.

He talked about making her a beaded friendship bracelet, which were popular during the Eras Tour, and said he wanted to give her his phone number.

She said the clip, which went viral, felt almost like "he was standing outside of my apartment, holding a boom box saying, 'I want to go on a date with you'".

Family and friends then started persuading her to take him up on his offer.

"My relatives, my cousins, were like, 'Please, please, please, he's amazing'. There were friends that were like, 'He's actually an amazing guy, he's so great'. There was a lot of people whispering in my ear about you."

She said it was exactly the moment she had "been writing songs about, wanting to happen to me since I was a teenager".

"It was wild, but it worked... He's the good kind of crazy," she said, calling her boyfriend "a human exclamation point".

We can now bring you a little bit of reaction now from Taylor Swift fans.

Shrieks of joy and delight can be heard in a video circulated on X, as concert-goers waiting for a Gracie Abrams show react to the news that Taylor Swift is now engaged.

The two stars share similar fanbases - and we'll be keeping an eye out from a reaction from Abrams herself.

The announcement comes just days after the singer gave a rare insight into her relationship with Kelce during a highly anticipated appearance on his podcast.

During the interview on New Heights, co-hosted with Travis's brother Jason, Swift discussed how she and Travis became a couple and their life together.

It’s the news Swifties have long been waiting for.

Pop star Taylor Swift has announced she is engaged to her partner of two years, NFL star Travis Kelce.

Taking to Instagram, Swift wrote “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

We’ll bring you more details and reaction as they come in.