Blog

Taylor Swift Steps Out for N.Y.C. Dinner Date with Mom Andrea and Dad Scott Ahead of Boyfriend Travis Kelce’s NFL Playoff Game

The trio were also joined by the singer’s longtime friend Ashley Avignone

Andrea Swift, Taylor Swift, Scott Swift. Photo: T.JACKSON/BACKGRID; Aeon/GC Images; T.JACKSON/BACKGRID

Taylor Swift took the Big Apple by storm with her parents by her side.

The singer, 35, spent dinner at Nobu Downtown in New York City on Friday, Jan. 17, when she was joined by her mother, Andrea Swift, and father, Scott Swift.

For the night out, Taylor wore a cropped peacoat and mini skirt from AREA, which she paired with a Jimmy Choo handbag and Chloe boots. She accessorized her look with a pair of Chanel earrings and her signature red lip.

Andrea, 67, for her part, kept warm in a black and gray winter coat, while Scott, 72, wore a dark blazer, a light blue button-up shirt and khaki pants.

Taylor’s longtime friend Ashley Avignone also joined the trio during the outing. The designer and stylist was spotted sporting multicolored outwear.

Taylor Swift in New York City on Jan. 17.Aeon/GC Images

Taylor’s dinner date with her parents and Avignone took place a day before her boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs will go up against the Houston Texans in the NFL playoff game in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Jan. 18.

The “Love Story” musician has become a staple at Kelce’s home games — ever since they started dating in 2023.

Andrea Swift, Scott Swift.T.JACKSON/BACKGRID

Taylor last attended the Chiefs’ Dec. 21 matchup, when they won 27-19 against the Texans. She wore a long red Charlotte Simone winter coat and black pants, which she paired with a black fur hat, for her game day attire.

Before that, Taylor had not attended an NFL game to support Kelce, 35, since November, due to her record-breaking Eras Tour, which ended with a final show in Vancouver on Dec. 8. (Kelce was playing a game against the Los Angeles Rams that same day.)

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce during the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas.Michael Owens/Getty

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show earlier this week, Kelce stated that Taylor will be in attendance at his playoff game, as the Chiefs attempt to secure their spot in Super Bowl LIX.

“Oh yeah. You know it, baby,” Kelce said, when host Pat McAfee hinted at Taylor’s attendance without naming her. “It’s playoff football, man.”

McAfee, 37, then pointed out that the Chiefs have a very good track record when Taylor goes to their games. Of the 20 she’s attended — including the 2024 Super Bowl — Kansas City has lost just three times.

“She rolls into that stadium, I just want to let you know what live bettors do. They see her walk into that stadium and immediately open the phone, like, ‘Yup, Chiefs are about to win.’ That is just literally the feel,” he explained.

Kelce and the Chiefs will take on the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round on Jan. 18 at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Caitlin Clark was mainstream throughout the 2024 WNBA season. It wasn’t just the spotlight she gained but also the reception she received from other players and past players. As a generational talent, she was thrust into the limelight with more scrutiny than most rookies face, and it was amplified when she was named Time’s Athlete of the Year at the end of her rookie season.

Veteran guidance

Transitioning to the WNBA didn’t come easy for the Indiana Fever guard. While her on-court performances were good, she has had to battle rough tackles and fouls on the court and criticisms off it. She received all the spotlight, and it seemed everyone was watching the WNBA because of her. Players felt overshadowed by her rise, while critics dissected her every move. Yet, the rookie had a voice of support from Hall of Famer and Fever legend Tamika Catchings.

“She was one of the first people to text me after I got picked and still checks in on me,” Clark said of Catchings. “So it’s cool, somebody that’s not in your building every day but means so much to your community and the organization… She’s like a legend. Her number is up in the rafters. That’s somebody I idolized and looked up to. For her to take two seconds to check in on me and see how I’m doing, that’s obviously really special.”

Catchings, a former Rookie of the Year and one of the most celebrated players in WNBA history understood the pressures the 22-year-old faced. During her own rookie season in 2002, the Fever legend navigated similar challenges, albeit in a different era and cultural significance.

Clark’s connection to the Hall of Famer was personal, giving her a sense of embracing the moment and playing through criticisms. It was needed if she was to become the face of women’s basketball.

A storied footsteps

Playing 15 seasons with Indiana, the retired forward went from winning the MVP in 2011 to leading the Fever to their first-ever championship in 2012, earning Finals MVP honors. She also set the bar impossibly high as a four-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA. Her No. 24 jersey now hangs in the rafters of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a permanent reminder of her legacy—one that Clark will hope to recreate.

“Her championship trophy that she won sits in our locker room,” said the Fever guard. “It’s like right next to my locker…so I have to look at it every day.”

The Iowa product is undoubtedly on the right track. Her rookie season showed her bright future. She earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year title in a season that drew record-breaking viewership, transforming her into a household name.

The connection between the rookie and the legend could go a long way to serve as a blueprint for greatness. If going by what she encountered in her first season, the former Hawkeyes will face a lot of adversity if she wants to become a legend.

Taylor Swift Pairs All-Black Outfit With Matching Manicure During Family Dinner in NYC

Cue the Reputation (Taylor’s Version) theories because Taylor Swift is looking “so gorgeous” in an all-black ensemble.

Swift, 35, stepped out in style on Friday, January 17, for dinner at New York City hotspot Nobu in a cropped black Area peacoat and a matching miniskirt from the brand, which she paired with color-coordinated Chloé knee-high boots and a Jimmy Choo handbag. The pop star also matched her manicure to the ensemble, painting her nails in a matte charcoal hue.

Swift accessorized her ‘fit — which eagle-eyed social media fans believe matched her OG Reputation color scheme to potentially hint at the next rerecording — with monogrammed Chanel earrings and her signature red lip.

 

For glam, Swift wore her hair down with side-swept bangs as the locks cascaded off one shoulder while she strutted down the NYC sidewalk.

The 14-time Grammy winner was joined on Friday by her parents, Andrea and Scott, as well as her brother, Austin. The close-knit Swift family also dined with the singer’s friend Ashley Avignone.

Swift’s Big Apple outing took place one day before her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs kick off the divisional playoff round. The reigning Super Bowl champs have a home game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, January 18, for a slot in the upcoming AFC conference championship. Earlier this week, Kelce, 35, teased that Swift would be in attendance.

“You know it, baby,” the tight end quipped on the Pat McAfee Show. “You know it’s playoff football, man. … I’m feeling fired up. I’m ‘feeling 22’ [like Swift’s song] all over again, baby. Let’s go!”

Taylor Swift Aeon/GC Images

Swift and Kelce have dating since summer 2023, months before she started cheering him on at football games. (Swift even made it to the 2024 Super Bowl last February, dressed in bedazzled Area jeans, a matching corset and “87” jewelry in honor of Kelce’s jersey number.)

“Me and Taylor are happy and I couldn’t be happier to have that confidence and that comfort off the field and all the support I could ever ask for in the stadium,” Kelce gushed on the Wednesday, January 15, episode of the Stephen A. Smith Show. “She loves coming to Arrowhead [Stadium] and coming to the games and cheering for me, so I got all the support in the world to keep chasing these dreams.”

Caitlin Clark is going through something no person should ever have to. No doubt, the WNBA has thrived this year but it has also attracted many negative eyes. While the entire 28th season revolved around Clark being one of the most polarizing figures to ever exist in the basketball world and how that has impacted the other players, no one really asked what the 22-year-old has been going through. Although she prefers to respond with her dynamic playing style, Clark has remained silent otherwise. But seems like her true likers are here to take her side.

Hate Against Caitlin Clark Pushed Too Far as Rachel DeMita Exposes Absurd Social Media Narratives

On the podcast Courtside Club, the host Rachel DeMita had a lot to say about the young star. “I’m sure, on the daily, she gets weird messages, she gets hateful messages, she gets trolling, she gets all of those things on her social media accounts,” said Rachel, emphasizing that the sheer level of stardom Caitlin Clark has achieved has led to immense scrutiny from the public.

“So many people within the WNBA sphere thought that she was the Golden Child and she was only getting praise… I feel like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders while just trying to play basketball as a 22-year-old.”

The Fever star has dealt with the hate, the love, and everything in between in her short time in the league. Surprisingly, the criticism was not just from the followers of the sport but even the veterans and the current players at times, making it only harder for the Des Moines native to focus on her job.

“I think the absolute best way to deal with trolls, to deal with someone threatening you, to deal with any of these things is to not respond. Do not engage, and keep receipt of those things, and I’m sure that’s what she was doing here,” said DeMita.

Time and again, Clark has remained silent in the face of criticism, focusing on what is actually important to her—basketball. Averaging nearly 20 pts, leading the league with 8.4 assists, and grabbing 6 rebounds is not normal for a rookie. Surely not becoming the very first WNBA rookie to get not just one but two triple-doubles. But people have always known her as a ‘ball is life’ kind of athlete.

In fact, there ran a narrative that everyone in the WNBA hated the point guard just because of the attention she grabbed. A rivalry with Angel Reese, becoming the face of the league, and a lot of criticism were all things she dealt with in her rookie year.

To go from being such a debated figure to winning the Rookie of the Year and being awarded the Time’s Athlete of the Year, Clark is really good at shutting out all the noise. And yet the question persists, is she all that?

Has Clark lived up to the expectations?

We know how much people love Caitlin Clark. Her time in Iowa was nothing short of legendary, and she broke hundreds of records. However, has the Indiana Fever star really lived up to the expectations fans had for her?

Clark is great at passing the ball, and she shoots the living daylights out of the ball. Even legends like LeBron James and Luka Doncic admit that she can shoot the three-ball. “The women’s Steph Curry.” The Slovenian guard called her, saying the Fever No. 22 can shoot better than him.

When praise comes from people like LeBron and Luka, you know that the Iowa alum is something special. Not to mention, LeBron is a full-fledged fan of Caitlin and compared her rookie year to his own in terms of the expectations they both had.

It must be tough for a rookie to have the kind of expectations that Clark had. Expectations were high. People expected Clark to become the face of the league, an All-Star. Some even had her as the MVP, where she landed in the top-5 spots, only sharing the stage as a rookie with Candace Parker. In spite of all this, Clark kept her wits about her as she entered the league. But has she done what LeBron managed to do? Has she lived up to the expectations?

Sep 25, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) possesses the ball during the first half against the Connecticut Sun during game two of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

As the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Times Athlete of the Year, some would say she has. Averaging solid numbers of 19.2ppg, 5.7rpg, and 8.4 apg, Caitlin Clark’s rookie year has been amazing. Since her entry into the league, viewership numbers have gone way up.

The WNBA recorded an all-time record of more than 54 million unique viewers, and attendance was up by about 48% from last season. On top of that, the Indiana Fever star broke the WNBA’s single-season assist record, putting up 322 assists in her rookie year.

As a future MVP and Olympics candidate, Caitlin Clark has cemented her place in the hearts of fans across the world. With the bar set very high, she has done her best to surpass every expectation that was put in front of her. Even with all of the hate, in spite of public narratives being unstable, she has delivered. Above all, it will be interesting to see what she does next.

LOOK: Taylor Swift sits with Caitlin Clark at Chiefs playoff game as they root on Travis Kelce and Kansas City

The WNBA star was with the pop star at Arrowhead Stadium

Getty Images

Superstar singer Taylor Swift has a history of sitting with some of the biggest stars while rooting on boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs and the divisional round was no exception. Swift was seen sitting next to WNBA star Caitlin Clark at the Chiefs divisional home game against the Houston Texans.

Clark’s appearance in the Swift suite came not long after the Indiana Fever player revealed the singer invited her to join her at a Chiefs game. After Clark attended the Eras Tour in November, the former first overall pick said Swift left her four bags of merchandise. Swift also invited Clark to join her at a future Chiefs game.

A few months later, Clark took Swift up on her offer.

Here’s a look at the two interacting during the game:

The two were also seen celebrating a big play from Kelce:

At the beginning of the game, Clark and Swift were not seated next to each other, but moved during the action.

Clark is a long-time Chiefs fan and was wearing a red jacket to support the home team.

“I had family in Kansas City, and I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, which is only three hours from Kansas City,” Clark said recently on “New Heights,” the podcast hosted by Kelce and his brother, Super Bowl champion Jason Kelce’s. “That’s just the closest NFL team.”

“My brother loved Tony Gonzalez,” she said. “We would go to one game a year growing up because my cousin was down in Kansas City.”

The Chiefs are currently up, 20-12, over the Texans as they look for their seventh AFC Championship appearance in as many years. Kansas City is also looking to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

Khris Middleton’s name is getting dragged to trade rumors and his reported move involving his family is not helping, leaving Milwaukee Bucks fans asking question.

Jan 17, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) drives to the basket against the Toronto Raptors in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Oct 30, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Miami Heat center Jimmy Butler (22) stands between Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and center Khris Middleton (22) after a foul in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

A Bucks fan posted on X about Middleton’s decision to sell his house and expressed sadness that this might be a hint that he will be shipped away soon. The post now has 50,000 views.

The biggest rumor is centered around Bucks’ reported interest on Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler who requested a trade amid a reported feud with president Pat Riley.

Middleton, who has played just 17 out of the team’s 40 games, is being used as a scapegoat by some team supporters, especially after he was moved by Doc Rivers into a sixth man this month.

ClutchPoints writer Brett Siegel wrote on January 18 that the Bucks are emerging as a dark horse to sign their 2023 playoffs tormentor.

Jan 10, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA;Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) looks on against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Fans were quick to react on Gaestel’s post.

“Im gonna throw up (if true),” wrote Khris Middleton is Good fan account.

The truth on Khris Middleton’s house sale

While some fans were quick to feel negative things about this news, others allayed fears he is leaving.

He remains a fan favorite Middleton and dismantling the squad is no longer a concern as the Bucks are on a three-game win streak.j

The X user’s worry is valid but Middleton actually put his house for sale up in August of 2024.

Mar 13, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) puts his arm around small forward Khris Middleton (22) during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Some comments also clarified that K-Midd looked for a new house near the city of Wisconsin to be in the same neighborhood as his superstar teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo.

For more great Wisconsin sports content

Follow us @WiSportsHeroics  for the latest and trending news about Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Marquette, and the rest of Wisconsin Sports. Stay updated by reading more of our Wisconsin Sports articles by clicking here and college basketball by clicking here!

Taylor Swift Goes High Fashion in $22,650 Chanel Outfit to Cheer Travis Kelce at Chiefs-Texans Playoff Game

Swift got decked out in a hot-off-the-runway Chanel look to support her boyfriend as the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Houston Texans in the NFL playoffs

Photo: Perry Knotts/AP Photo

Taylor Swift just turned the hallways at Arrowhead Stadium into her own personal runway!

On Saturday, Jan. 18, the pop star, 35, piled on the Chanel in Kansas City, Mo., to support her boyfriend, NFL tight end Travis Kelce, as he and the rest of the Chiefs went head-to-head with the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium.

For the match-up, the Eras Tour performer wore a full Chanel look from the label’s Resort 2025 show, as first pointed out by Sarah Chapelle of the Taylor Swift Styled Instagram account.

The Grammy winner teamed Chanel’s $9,600 black and white tweed coat with a $4,650 wool jersey romper and $2,250 chain pearl belt. She also wore $1,150 oversize double C Chanel disc earrings and a $5,000 Chanel mini flap bag.

Taylor Swift wears Chanel at Chiefs-Texans playoff game in Kansas City on Jan. 18.Perry Knotts/AP Photo

As for her glam, she kept it classic with her signature red lip for a pop of color and her hair down with bangs swept to the side.

Taylor Swift at the Chiefs-Texans Game on Jan. 18/Model on the Chanel Spring 2025 Resort Runway.Perry Knotts/AP; SplashNews.com

Swift has made her mark as a fashionable fixture at several Chiefs games this season, stepping out in red-themed looks in a nod to the team’s signature color. On Saturday, Dec. 21, the singer stopped by Arrowhead Stadium wearing a long red Charlotte Simone winter coat and black pants, which she paired with a black faux fur hat to keep warm in the Missouri cold.

In November, Swift attended Chiefs games as they faced off against the Buccaneers, Broncos and the Raiders, wearing red outfits to each one. She incorporated designer pieces into her looks, including a tweed Versace look featuring a red-and-black windowpane blazer and matching miniskirt paired with a black corset and a black Versace bag and knee-high Versace boots for the Broncos game.

Swift attends the Chiefs-Texans game on Dec. 21.Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Her appearance at the first Chiefs-Texans game was the first game she has attended since the end of the Eras Tour, which wrapped in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Dec. 8 after 21 months. The tour kicked off in Arizona in March 2023 and spanned long enough for Swift to release her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, in April 2024.

During her Dec. 7 show, Swift said the concert series was “the most fun, joyful, exciting, intense, powerful and wonderful tour I have ever done,” per fan footage shared on X (formerly Twitter).

“There’s a reason why this is my longest tour I’ve ever done. I’ve never played this many shows on a tour before, and it’s just ’cause I really never wanted it to end, because you guys have made it into such a wonderful experience for all of us on stage,” she continued.

Swift attends the Chiefs Broncos game on Nov. 10.David Eulitt/Getty

Kelce has also shown his own support for Swift, throwing his girlfriend a star-studded surprise party in celebration of the end of the Eras Tour as well as the singer’s 35th birthday.

The party was complete with references from the tour, including the faux-cleaning cart the “Cruel Summer” singer used to travel from her dressing room to the stage, the “22” hat usually given to a lucky fan each performance, the green capes Swift wore while performing her Evermore track “Willow” and even the friendship bracelets made and worn by many of the audience members.

When it comes to Beyoncé’s exclusion from the 2024 CMA Awards nominees list, Dolly Parton can’t help but wonder whether the awards show is simply offering preference to the artists who do country music full-time.

“I guess probably, the country music field, they probably thought, ‘Well, we can’t really leave out some of the ones who spend their whole life doing that,’” Parton theorized when asked about the shut-out during an interview with Variety.

The country legend was in that interview to promote Good Lookin’ Cookin’, the cookbook she co-authored with her sister Rachel Parton George, along with the book’s accompanying line of Home Chef meals.

But she also spoke to two musical collaborations she’s been a part of this year: Her reimagined “Jolene” on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album, and her duet with Post Malone, “Have the Heart,” which is featured on his first-ever full country project, F-1 Trillion.

“[Beyoncé]’s a country girl in Texas and Louisiana, so she grew up with that base. It wasn’t like she just appeared out of nowhere,” she pointed out. “Post Malone has loved country music his whole life…I thought both those albums were great.”

Though Cowboy Carter didn’t receive any nominations at this year’s CMA Awards — despite being eligible for categories like Album of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Single of the Year — Parton says that doesn’t take away from the project’s impact.

“It was a wonderful album. She can be very, very proud of, and I think everybody in country music welcomed her and thought that, that was good,” she goes on to say. “So I don’t think it was a matter of shutting out, like, doing that on purpose. I think it was just more of what the country charts and the country artists were doing, that do that all the time, not just a specialty album.”

Post is a four-time nominee at the 2024 CMAs, and there’s a strong possibility that F-1 Trillion will bring him nominations next year, too, since the album was released after the cut-off for inclusion in the Album of the Year category for this year’s show. All four of his current nominations are for his smash hit with Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help.”

Even though Beyoncé might not be a nominated artist at this year’s CMA Awards, you never know: There could still be an opportunity for her to have an onstage moment at the show, maybe even with Parton herself. When asked if she’d ever perform “Jolene” as a duet with Beyoncé, the country legend was enthusiastic.

“Oh yeah,” she said. “I’m open to anything.”

The 2024 CMA Awards will air on ABC on Nov. 20.

024 CMA Awards Nominations: Biggest Snubs + Surprises, Ranked

Country music fans should be a little angry today. Nominees for the 2024 CMA Awards were announced, and missing are several of the genre’s top stars, including two who’ve anchored the format for nearly 20 years.

10. Snub: Carrie Underwood

Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images

10. Snub: Carrie Underwood

Last year Carrie Underwood was an Entertainer of the Year nominee. This year, she didn’t get mentioned at all! She’s not currently in an album cycle, so any case for her in EOTY or Female Vocalist of the Year categories would rest with her Las Vegas residency. It’s surprising not to see her nominated for the first time ever, but not shocking.

9. Snub: Miranda Lambert

Jason Kempin, Getty Images

9. Snub: Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert’s streak of 17 straight years with a Female Vocalist of the Year nomination comes to an end in 2024. Like Underwood, the 2024 CMAs caught her out of an album cycle and somewhat between record labels. Yes, she’s with Big Loud, but if they were to push for her nomination, they’d be doing it on the strength of her Sony career, plus “Wranglers.” It’s going to be weird not to see either her or Underwood at the show this year.

8. Snub: Nate Smith, World on Fire

Jason Kempin, Getty Images

8. Snub: Nate Smith, “World on Fire”

Nate Smith’s “World on Fire” spent 10 weeks at No. 1, tying Morgan Wallen’s record. That wasn’t enough for a Single of the Year nomination.

Part of why this ballad was able to span two-and-a-half-months was the holidays, when record labels aren’t really working the phones to get to No. 1. His light catalog also made it easy for this slow-burner to maintain maximum airplay. Maybe it’s not a Song of the Year contender, but any song with that much airplay should be in the Single category.

No. 7: Surprise: Kacey Mugraves

Jason Kempin, Getty Images

No. 7: Surprise: Kacey Mugraves

Artistically, Kacey Musgraves deserves each and everyone of her CMA nominations in 2024, but typically the artists who aim their arrow at mainstream country radio get the artist-based nominations. It’s refreshing to see her hold a spot in the Female category.

No. 6: Snub: Parmalee

Carly Mackler, Getty Images

No. 6: Snub: Parmalee

Hey, it’s us — just over here waving the flag for Parmalee, the most snubbed country act of the last five years. This group continue to churn out radio hits, but can’t crack a very weak Vocal Group category. It’s mystifying.

No. 5: Surprise: Jelly Roll, Whitsitt Chapel

Broken Bow Records

No. 5: Surprise: Jelly Roll, ‘Whitsitt Chapel’

Jelly Roll was praised for a lot in 2023 and 2024, but his album was rarely talked about in Album of the Year conversations. It’s a strong effort, but he seemed much more likely to nab Song or Single of the Year nominations.

His Entertainer of the Year nom is no surprise. He very well could win it.

No. 4: Snub: Post Malone

Jason Kempin, Getty Images

No. 4: Snub: Post Malone

Post Malone earned four nominations, but didn’t get one in the Male Vocalist or New Artist category. He should have. He’s the Jelly Roll of 2024.

No. 3: Snub: Beyonce

Amy Sussman, Getty Images

No. 3: Snub: Beyonce

There is going to be a lot written this week about why Beyonce deserved some CMA love. She truly did. Cowboy Carter got us through a very sleepy first half of 2024, and her music pushed the genre forward in meaningful ways. If nothing else, she should have been mentioned in Single of the Year or the uninspiring Album of the Year category.

No. 2: Snub: Zach Bryan

Keith Griner, Getty Images

No. 2: Snub: Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan is at or near the top of streaming and sales charts most weeks, and his tour is one of the biggest in country music. He represents a much bigger snub, however …

No. 1: Snub: Country Music Fans

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

No. 1: Snub: Country Music Fans

Nominations for the 2024 CMA Awards are nearly a replica of the 2024 ACM Awards. The only difference in the Entertainment, Male, Female, Group and Duo categories is Flatland Calvary is out, and the Red Clay Strays are in. The ACMs also added a few extra EOTY nominees, but the same five are at the core. It’s like voters forgot to submit until the last minute and just copy-pasted what they wrote last time. That’s an insult to fans who (whether they admit it or not) look to ACM/CMA/CMT voters as tastemakers. This set of nominees lacks the most popular streaming artists (Beyonce, Post Malone, Zach Bryan) and the most popular live artists (similar list, plus Kenny Chesney).

Chiefs Veteran’s Strong Message on NFL Conspiracy for Patrick Mahomes & Co. as Texans Star Throws Referees Under the Bus

In a straight-up banger of a game. The Kansas City Chiefs demolished the Houston Texans 34-20 in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes and Co. were straight-up on fire as always. Securing their place in the postseason and keeping those Super Bowl dreams alive. But, hold up, there’s more. The Chiefs can never seem to dodge the drama. Every time they ball out, the ‘NFL rigged it for them‘ conspiracy theories come flying. Especially with all the noise surrounding Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. Seriously, you can’t even win a game without some conspiracy theories about it?

Well, Mitchell Schwartz, former Chiefs player and NFL vet, isn’t having it. He shut down those conspiracy theories with a tweet, saying, “People thought this stuff before Taylor Swift entered the picture. There’s just no universe where the NFL conspires to have Kansas City be the team that is the most successful.” Schwartz is out here defending not just the Chiefs but the whole integrity of the NFL, reminding everyone that these theories were around long before Swift and Kelce even made it official.

The conspiracy talk went into overdrive in 2023, with fans and analysts wondering if the NFL was pushing a whole storyline to make Kansas City the league’s top team. And when Swift and Kelce’s relationship hit the media, the noise only got louder. Swift’s presence at games brought in a ton of new fans, especially younger ones. It was basically the ‘Taylor Swift Effect.’ NFL commissioner Roger Goodell even said before Super Bowl LVIII, “We hear the stories, we see the data, people are talking about the game that weren’t talking about the game yesterday.” And man the numbers show it—Kelce’s jersey sales shot up 400%, and the Chiefs gained 200k new followers on Insta, even though they didn’t dive into the whole relationship drama.

Schwartz isn’t just out here defending the Chiefs; he’s sticking up for the whole game. The idea that the NFL would rig games for any team just doesn’t fly. The Chiefs’ success comes from straight-up talent, not some behind-the-scenes manipulation. Schwartz put it best when he said the Chiefs are winning because of Patrick Mahomes, Kelce, and the crew putting in that work. And look, just when everything seems fine. In 2023, the NFL posted about Swift 34 times, racking up 170 million impressions. Kelce’s jersey went crazy, and the Chiefs’ social media blew up. So, there is the ‘Taylor swift effect‘ to some extent.

But, even sites like Frontproof Media shot down the whole ‘NFL rigging‘ theory. They pointed out that while conspiracy theories are part of sports culture, there’s zero legit proof that the NFL plays favorites. With independent refs and oversight committees, every team’s got a fair shot.

Marca also gave Swift’s influence a shoutout, saying she helped boost the NFL’s profile, especially with young women, but they didn’t try to link that to any kind of bias. It’s just smart marketing. The Chiefs’ success isn’t some rigged storyline. It’s all earned through mad skills on the field, not some shady behind-the-scenes deal. At the end of the day, it’s about what happens on the field, not some conspiracy theory. But, the Texans players aren’t willing to believe that anytime soon.

Texans’ frustrations mount over referee calls vs Patrick Mahomes and Co

Before the game, Texans running back Joe Mixon didn’t hold back, saying, “Everybody knows how it is playing up here. You can never leave it into the refs hands. The whole world sees, man.” Pretty much calling out the fact that the refs playing a big role in how the game unfolded.

Will Anderson, the Texans DE, kept it real too, adding, “We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game.” And honestly, it’s hard to argue when you look at the missed calls. Travis Kelce was straight-up forgotten by the refs, finishing the game with 7 catches, 117 yards, and a touchdown—like, come on, how do you let that happen? On top of that, Chris Jones got held a dozen times without a flag. And a penalty extended a Chiefs drive that should’ve been a 3-and-out.

But it wasn’t just the missed calls on Kansas City’s side. The Texans had their own struggles. They missed a field goal, an extra point, and had a field goal blocked. Meanwhile, the Chiefs defense was eating up the Texans offense in the fourth quarter, shutting them down when it mattered most. And let’s not forget the clear hold missed on the Texans’ offense that helped Patrick Mahomes and Co put up points.

At the end of the day, both teams had some sketchy calls going against them, but the Texans were left fuming, feeling like they were fighting both the Chiefs and the refs all game. Whether its bad calls or missed calls, it’s always part of the game—but it sure seemed to hurt the Texans more this time around.

The 5 Worst Songs of 2024, From Jennifer Lopez and Ice Spice to Justin Timberlake – They Failed Miserably!

Jennifer Lopez’s “This Is Me … Now” was the disastrous sequel to 2002’s “This Is Me … Then.” AFP via Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez went from J.Lo to J.Low, Katy Perry was a fallen idol, and Justin Timberlake couldn’t bring his sexy back.

Here are the five worst songs of 2024, from a sad sequel to a hip-hop flop and a cringe collaboration. And for the best, go here.

For more from the Post, see the best and worst movies of the year — and the best and worst of TV.

1. Jennifer Lopez, “Dear Ben, Pt. II”

Jennifer Lopez’s “Dear Ben Pt. II” was the sequel that nobody but the former Mrs. Affleck wanted. FilmMagic
What a difference a year makes. J.Lo gushed all over then-husband Ben Affleck on “This Is Me … Now,” the disastrous sequel to 2002’s “This Is Me … Then,” which was also all about her “Gigli” co-star. There was even this sequel to “Dear Ben” that nobody but the former Mrs. Affleck wanted. It was more like “Dear God” — a sad sign that their marriage was doomed.

2. Ice Spice, “Think U the S—t (Fart)”

Bronx rapper Ice Spice dropped a total stinker in “Think U the Shit (Fart).” Getty Images
“Think you the s—t, bitch?/You not even the fart,” raps Ice Spice on this single — from the Bronx MC’s debut album “Y2K!” — that tried so hard to be clever, but just ended up being crass. A total stinker, this turd of a tune goes straight down the toilet.

3. Katy Perry, “Woman’s World”

Katy Perry’s female-empowerment anthem “Woman’s World” turned out to be a problematic misfire. David Fisher/Shutterstock for Global
After leaving “American Idol,” Perry seemed determined to remind us why she became a pop idol, but her “143” LP was nothing to “Roar” about. And she did herself no favors by releasing “Woman’s World” as the first single in July. What was meant to be a female-empowerment anthem turned out to be a problematic misfire co-written and co-produced by Dr. Luke — the same hitmaker who Kesha claimed had sexually and emotionally abused her. Talk about tone-deaf.

4. Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé, “Spicy Margarita”

Jason Derulo’s “Spicy Margarita” collaboration with Michael Bublé is the oddest of couplings. Getty Images for iHeartRadio
Derulo had gone nine long years without releasing an album before 2024’s “Nu King.” And the “Whatcha Say” singer collaborated with everyone from Nicki Minaj and French Montana to Adam Levine and Meghan Trainor in random desperation. But this duet with Bublé is probably the oddest of couplings: an EDM-pop interpolation of the Dean Martin classic “Sway” that has all of the flavor sucked out of it.

5. Justin Timberlake, “Drown”

Justin Timberlake couldn’t stop the feeling with “Drown.” Getty Images for Audacy
After his comeback single “Selfish” barely cracked the Top 20, “Drown” was a failed rescue attempt for “Everything I Thought It Was,” Timberlake’s first album since 2018. It wants to be another “Cry Me a River” or “What Goes Around … Comes Around,” but it’s a tired retread that couldn’t stop the sinking feeling for the once-surefire singer, whose LP flop was followed by a DWI arrest.