Travis Kelce is a big fan of Taylor Swift’s new song “Cleveland!” and he let everyone know on the latest episode of New Heights. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his brother Jason both praised the track, which celebrates the city where they grew up.
“It’s a banger,” Travis said, adding “Come on, man.”
Kelce’s Big Moment
The episode aired Wednesday (Sept. 30), and both Kelce brothers were clearly excited about the song. Travis started the conversation while talking about how well the various sports teams based in his home state have been performing recently.
He mentioned the Cincinnati Bearcats in college football and the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians. Then he turned to Swift’s tribute. “Cleveland is rocking right now!” he cheered. “Shout-out to Tay Tay for making that song, just giving the city a little more punch.”
The Track’s Origin
“Cleveland!” arrived on Sept. 25, alongside three other bonus tracks on Encore:
- “Patient Zero”
- “Pink Skies”
- “Babylon”
These four songs extend the story of The Life of a Showgirl, which originally dropped in October 2025.
The album spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after debuting with a historic 4.002 million equivalent album units in the United States, according to Luminate.
What the Song Says
Swift sings about the contrast between the love she feels with Travis and the hate she sometimes gets from the public. The lyrics describe her being told she looks like an angel, while others say they hate her.
“The taste of me is acquired, but it’s his favorite dish/ He says I look like an angel, they say, ‘I hate that b—h.'”
She also references a house with a porch where Travis lived as a kid, noting that people have written scathing takes about how she’s fake and that he could find someone younger. The chorus is more direct:
“My baby likes what he likes/ He already took me to Cleveland/ And he showed me The Heights, so hate all you like/ This is the love of my life.”
The Couple’s Cleveland History
Fans last saw Swift and Travis out in public in Cleveland when the pair attended a Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks game in May. The 14-time Grammy winner included home video of herself and the athlete driving around the city together in the “Cleveland!” lyric video.
Months later, the song arrived as part of Encore.
Recent Swift Activity
Since Encore dropped, Swift has attended the 2026 VMAs, where she won video of the year for her self-directed “The Fate of Ophelia” visual. She has also released the “Patient Zero” music video starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.
The Kelce Reaction
Jason joined in his brother’s praise. “That song is incredible,” he said. “Kylie [Kelce] and I listen to it so much. There’s just something about it, I love it.”
The brothers’ enthusiasm was immediate and unfiltered. They are clearly proud of their hometown getting this kind of attention.
What Comes Next
The song’s performance on the charts remains unknown for now. But in the Kelce household, it is already a hit.
Travis’s reaction was pure fandom. He cheered for Swift, called the song “a banger” and celebrated the fact that she gave his city “a little more punch.” That is the kind of endorsement a hometown boy like Travis can’t help but appreciate.
The song is already doing its job. It is a banger, and the Kelces are not the only ones who think so.
Watch the full new episode of New Heights below.
Source material: “Travis Kelce Shouts Out Taylor Swift for Writing ‘Cleveland!’ About His Home City: ‘It’s a Banger’,” Billboard.
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