Travis Kelce Claims ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is his Favorite Album

Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end whose three Super Bowl triumphs, romance-based competition series, and popular podcast arguably made him a household name even before he started dating billionaire singer Taylor Swift. But even before those two stars aligned, he positioned himself as a fan of live music, an aficionado so devout that he even hosts an annual, eponymous concert with his favorite acts. But while in the past he’s counted musicians such as Technotronic and Jack Harlow as his top picks, it’s Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department that claims the #1 spot in his heart.

At least, that’s what Kelce told Rolling Stone Saturday, from the decidedly non-Europe environs of Bonner Springs, Kansas. That’s the Kansas City suburb where his Kelce Jam was held this weekend, with a lineup that included artists Lil Wayne, Diplo and 2 Chainz. Those three musicians are his current favorites, Kelce told People in April.

The 34-year-old said that he’s followed Lil Wayne since his “mixtape days,” an impressive claim as the rapper signed his first record deal in 1995, when Kelce would have been five years old. (I’d say here that Travis Kelce must have been the coolest kid at his preschool, but as his podcast listeners know, the athlete says he was expelled from nursery school after throwing a chair at a teacher during a contentious game of checkers.)

Along with Lil Wayne, Kelce noted last month that this year’s Kelce Jam has “got Diplo and we’ve got 2 Chainz, so we’ve got three unbelievable performers — three of my favorite, if I might add.” Other favorites Kelce has recently named include “Pump up the Jam” singers Technotronic and Jack Harlow, a playlist he compiled for Apple Music notes. Kelce singled Harlow out for special praise, saying “He’s talented and a cool guy … I’m also looking forward to the day he gives me a cameo role in his next music video. Put me in Jack, I’m ready!”

So far, flattering Harlow hasn’t paid off for Kelce, who has yet to be cast in the Louisville rapper’s work. Perhaps that’s why he’s made the decision to kiss up to Swift—that, and (of course) a reasonable desire to be a supportive partner.

When RS asked what his “favorite album released in the past year” was as Kelce Jam kicked off, his answer was swift (haha). “I’m a little biased, but Tortured Poets Department might be it,” he said of the double-record opus. He elaborated further to People, which asked which of the album’s 31 songs is his favorite. “I might be a little biased,” he said again, then named “So High School,” as his first choice.

That song, an ode to the joys of adolescent dating, is widely believed to be about Swift’s perception of Kelce. In fact, just last week she blew Kelce a kiss as she launched into the song from the stage at the Paris La Defense Arena, giving him a significant glance as she sang the line, “You already know, babe.”

Of course, while Kelce’s favorite artists were at Kelce Jam, the artist behind his favorite record was halfway around the world, playing a show at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Taylor Swift plays there again tonight, then will take the week off, returning to the stage in Lisbon, Portugal on Friday, May 24.