On Aug. 26th, the music industry and sports industries intertwined when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement.

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” said Swift’s Instagram caption.

According to The New York Times, the world was taken by surprise as just 13 days before the two were seen together on The New Heights podcast, Travis and his brother, Jason, had a podcast that discussed everything sports, until then, when Taylor used the podcast episode to announce her new album, “The Life of A Showgirl.”

13 is Swift’s lucky number, and it’s no surprise that she would launch her engagement 13 days after the release of her new album.

Both Sports fans and Swifties, the name of Taylor Swift’s fanbase, shared their opinions.

“Honestly, it’s great to see her get a personal win like this. I feel like with the public constantly berating her dating habits and relationships, it’s amazing to see that it doesn’t let that deter her from sharing her love with the world,” said Avery Hanson, a sophomore theater arts major.

Taylor Swift is known for her many relationships and songs that correlate with them. However, now that she is engaged, her music will most likely be subjected to change.​

The two met two years ago when Travis Kelce was spotted at Swift’s Eras Tour. According to People’s magazine, Andy Reid, the Coach of the Chiefs, is said to have encouraged the two’s relationship. With that, the two were later spotted together on their first date in 2023. 

The rest is history, as the two have been spotted on various occasions together. More recently, the world was shocked to see Travis Kelce perform with Taylor on one of the nights of her tour. According to People’s magazine, Kelce was seen performing in London, and it is a performance he will never forget.

“Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce is definitely merging the sports and entertainment world. Taylor Swift, already being who she is, brings the spotlight even more to the NFL, drawing fans and boosting viewership. For Kelce, it boosts his fame from a star tight end in the NFL to a mainstream celebrity. This already puts him above and open for more opportunities,” said Jordan Harris, a sophomore sports communications major.

The NFL is gaining more engagement and viewership as more fans seem to be interested in the two’s relationship and Swift making appearances during coverage of the game. Not only that, but due to the fact that Kelce is now a mainstream celebrity, that also brings more viewership to the NFL.

While many sports fans and Swifties loved to hear about the engagement of the two, others who did not follow the two heard the news as it spread like wildfire across both campuses and through the media.

“I found out about the engagement from a text chain with a few friends. I don’t follow Taylor Swift super closely, but I was shocked and excited to hear about it! I can’t wait to see her dress,” said Jane Dorris, a freshman in biomedical art and visualization.

Overall, students’ reactions were positive and informative as to where they stand with the news. Many look forward to the wedding as well as what is to come from the happy couple.

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