The road to the Super Bowl kicks off this weekend—not just with the start of the NFL regular season, but also with the highly anticipated reveal of the superstar set to perform at the iconic halftime show, traditionally announced in early September.
Over the past months, names like Drake, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Doja Cat, Cardi B, Harry Styles, and Twenty One Pilots have been floated. There’s even been talk of multiple headliners, as happened in 2020 with J.Lo and Shakira—who were joined by J Balvin and Bad Bunny.
But in recent weeks, Taylor Swift’s name has stood out, especially following her star appearance on New Heights, the podcast hosted by her brother-in-law Jason Kelce and fiancé Travis Kelce.
Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end #87 Travis Kelce after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 11, 2024. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Easter Eggs and Hidden Clues
During the episode, Swift reportedly dropped several of her trademark Easter eggs—subtle hints about her future plans that keep fans on high alert. Known for her love of numerology and hidden messages in album booklets and music videos, Swifties quickly began piecing together the evidence, suggesting she may be the star of the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show.
Her Sourdough Obsession… Or Is It a Clue?
In the podcast, Taylor revealed the cover and release date of her upcoming studio album, but she also discussed other interests—like her newfound obsession with sourdough bread.
«Right now we’re deep into a sourdough obsession that has taken over my life… I actually spend 60% of my time talking about bread,» she said.
Fans quickly noted two key details: Sourdough Sam is the mascot of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, whose Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will host the 2026 Super Bowl. And next year marks the 60th edition of the game. Coincidence? Many fans think not.
Swifties have also zeroed in on the number 47. It’s the episode number of New Heights in which Taylor appeared, and also the number of seconds Jason Kelce “shouted” her name while introducing her on the podcast. When asked how many countries she’s toured with The Eras Tour, Taylor jokingly said “47,000” (the actual number was 21). Her 47th show of the tour? Levi’s Stadium, where she apparently previewed one of her first orange outfits for The Life of a Showgirl.
Combine 47 with her lucky number 13, and you get 60—matching next year’s Super Bowl edition.
A cardboard cutout of Taylor Swift is seen in the window of a building prior to Super Bowl LIX on February 08, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will face each other on Sunday. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Full Control of Her Catalog Makes It Easier
Another compelling reason Swift could headline: in 2025, she regained full control of her musical catalog, including the masters of her first six albums. This means she now owns the rights to her songs, including TV performance and licensing rights—critical for a global broadcast like the Super Bowl halftime show. When Scooter Braun still held her catalog, he controlled these permissions.
With all the hints, numbers, and her regained catalog rights, the pieces seem to align perfectly for Swift to take the Super Bowl stage in 2026.
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