After taking the record-breaking Eras Tour across the globe, it would only make sense for Taylor Swift to headline this upcoming Super Bowl — at least you think. But while promoting her new album The Life of a Showgirl on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she addressed the long-standing rumors that she was approached about taking on the world's biggest stage.
Fallon tepidly asked Swift if she turned down the opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl, and she denied that and went on to explain how the discussions between her team and Jay-Z — whose record label Roc Nation signed a deal with the NFL in 2019 to be the exclusive partner — curating and producing the halftime show.
"Here's the thing. Jay-Z has always been really good to me. Our teams are really close," she said and went on to clarify that she never received a formal offer or had any conversations about the show before the opportunity was presented to Bad Bunny, who will be taking the stage next year.
"We're always able to tell him the truth, which is that I am in love with a guy who does that sport on that field," she explained, saying that she is so "locked in" during the entire season, worrying about and cheering on her fiancé Travis Kelce. "Like that is violent chess. That is gladiators without swords. That is dangerous. The whole season, I am locked in on what that man is doing on the field. Can you imagine if he's out there every single week, putting his life on the line doing this very dangerous, very high-pressure, high-intensity sport, and I'm like, 'I wonder what my choreo should be?'"
The rumors of her taking the stage have swirled around for months now and it would make sense given the theme of her latest project, but the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also stoked the flames of that rumor when he made an appearance on The TODAY Show back in September and the host asked if she was invited to perform. "We would always love to have Taylor play," Goodell said. "She is a special, special talent. And obviously she would be welcome at any time."
Goodell was asked if there were conversations being had, to which he responded, "I can't tell you anything about that. It's a 'maybe.'" But now, those rumors have been debunked.
