Kelly Clarkson Unveils the NFL’s Taylor Swift Coverage: More Drama Than 'The Real Housewives'

Kelly Clarkson Jason Mendez/Getty Images

Kelly Clarkson expresses her desire for the NFL to prioritize football over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's romance.

"It's concerning how their relationship has become such a dominant topic in NFL coverage, overshadowing the actual sport for those who enjoy watching," Clarkson, 41, confessed during the October 20 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Clarkson compared the attention surrounding Swift and Kelce to watching reality TV while watching football, with a focus on gossip rather than the game itself.

Kelce initially showed interest in Swift by trying to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it during her concert in Kansas City. He later went on to invite Swift to watch him and the Chiefs play, which she accepted by attending their game against the Chicago Bears on September 24. Swift has continued to support Kelce at two more games, including sitting with his parents during their game against the Denver Broncos on October 12.

Earlier this month, the couple made their relationship official with two date nights in New York City. They surprised everyone by appearing on Saturday Night Live on October 14th and were seen holding hands after a dinner date the next evening. Bowen Yang, an SNL star who recently appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, revealed that the cast had no idea that Swift and Kelce were going to be there until the day of the season 49 premiere. Yang humorously described his reaction to seeing the couple, saying, "I turned the corner and there they were at the Page desk, and I was like, 'Oh wow, they're the tallest people I've ever seen. Who are they?' I felt like I was in the middle of a Redwood Forest or something."

He continued: “And then, I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness. Wow, it’s them. OK, they’re here,’ and it was wild.”

Clarkson concluded the interview by commending Swift and her fans for promoting kindness through friendship bracelets. This movement originated during Swift's The Eras Tour at the beginning of this year.

"People are really enthusiastic about it. She has an amazing group of supporters," Clarkson expressed. "We have all been fans of her music. She is a talented songwriter with numerous incredible songs."

Before Swift was spotted in the stands at the Chiefs vs. Broncos game, sports broadcaster Al Michaels discussed the amount of attention she should receive on game day. Michaels, 78, stated in an interview with Sports Illustrated on October 12 that the focus should primarily be on the football game, rather than turning it into a sideshow. While acknowledging that there may be a significant number of people who would be satisfied with continuous coverage of Swift, Michaels emphasized that this was not the intention.

The NFL has justified its choice to focus on the couple by stating that they regularly update their bios and profile imagery to reflect current events and cultural trends surrounding their games. In a statement on October 4, they explained that the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news represents a significant intersection of sports and entertainment. The league has received an overwhelmingly positive response to this coverage.