Ed Sheeran and Kylie Kelce Call Taylor Swift the Ultimate “Cheat Code” for Roaring Crowds

The Power of Star Presence: Taylor Swift as the Ultimate Crowd Magnet

During an honest episode of Kylie Kelce's "Not Gonna Lie" podcast, one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Ed Sheeran, shared some of his most memorable audience experiences from his career. As Sheeran and Kelce talked, they both recognized one thing: Taylor Swift can unite any audience. Sheeran recalled a memorable performance in 2023 in Detroit when he brought out Eminem on stage, which ignited an explosion like nothing he had ever experienced before. Sheeran quickly added that this is a “cheat code” audience reaction and is reserved for a small number of artists. Kelce called Swift Philadelphia's version of that cheat code, especially being from Pennsylvania. However, Sheeran quickly clarified that Swift doesn't just elicit this reaction in Philly; she gets it everywhere.

Sheeran and Kelce Bond Over Their Swift Connections

However, what made the discussion even more personal was the fact that they had shared quite a bit of time with Swift. In Kelce's case, it is because of family, as Taylor is dating her brother-in-law, Travis Kelce (an NFL star). In Sheeran's case, he had a working relationship with Taylor Swift dating back to the Red Tour in 2013. More than anything, their joint perspective gave a sense of how Swift not only affects her fans but also other artists and families, too. No matter what city she is in or what crowd she is playing to, her ability to electrify a stadium with energy is unique. This is, as both Kelce and Sheeran seem to have agreed, something that is unique and special in music.

When Touring Turns Into Football Fandom

In contrast, the episode wasn’t entirely about high-decibel concerts or celebrity relationships. Sheeran also shared a more humorous anecdote about how his time touring with Swift unexpectedly introduced him to American football culture. After moving to Nashville for Swift’s Red Tour, he picked up a pair of pajamas from Walmart, unaware they sported the Tennessee Titans logo. A friend pointed it out, and without much thought, Sheeran jokingly embraced the role of an NFL fan. This quirky moment highlighted the many cultural surprises Sheeran faced during his U.S. tour days — and how being part of Swift’s orbit influenced not just his music but also his lifestyle.

Sheeran’s Upcoming Album "Play"

Regardless, although nostalgia took over most of the discussion, Sheeran took the opportunity to tease what is next for him. He has an album coming out called Play in September. To date, there have been three small releases - "Azizam," "Old Phone," and "Sapphire." And while the songs are very much looking inwards for the changes that Ed Sheeran's artistry is going through after stadium-touring, regardless of the direction that he is moving towards, one clear thing is homegrown (as in locally and globally) Ed Sheeran is still down to earth, accessible and incredibly open - even when talking about the major names in pop music.