NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Global icon, songwriter and Nashvillian, Taylor Swift, surprised fans with an impromptu performance during the annual Tight End University concert in Nashville Tuesday night.
Swift has been in her adopted home town all week to support her partner, NFL star Travis Kelce, while his Tight End University (TEU) player camp is being held at Vanderbilt University.
The Tight Ends and Friends benefit concert was held at Brooklyn Bowl, which can host about 1,200 guests.
She was first brought on stage by Kane Brown during his performance and joked she was using a guitar lent to her by Chase Rice. Swift then launched into a stripped-down (for her) performance of “Shake It Off, “dedicated to “our favorite players who are going to play, the tight ends.”
Swift explained to the crowd the backing band just learned they would perform the song “three minutes ago.”
Now in its fifth year, TEU was founded by George Kittle, Kelce and Greg Olsen to help tight ends train and build a community. At least 80 players and their partners attend the annual event in Music City.
Rice, Sophia Scott, Jordan Davis, Graham Barham, Nico Moon and Ernest also performed at the benefit concert, tickets for which were around $35.
This was Swift’s first public performance since the end of her record-shattering Eras Tour last year and since she regained control of her entire music catalog.