One Taylor Swift fan had the time of her life at the Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs matchup on Jan. 21 — and stopped by TODAY with her mother to talk about how Jason Kelce lifted her up to see the iconic pop star.
Ella Piazza, 8, told TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb on Jan. 23 about how the magic moment came to be — and how she was a mastermind herself and knew it would happen all along. “I was thinking positive, but some of my friends weren’t that positive,” Ella explained of her hopes to meet Swift at the game.
It all started after Jason Kelce celebrated brother Travis Kelce’s touchdown by taking off his shirt. The Philadelphia Eagles center jumped out of the suite in a cheerful mood to interact with fans, and lifted up Ella and her homemade sign to wave to Swift. “Then (he) came over here and then he picked me up and then I saw Taylor,” Ella said with a huge grin. “It was, like, amazing.” Ella’s mom, Jessica Piazza, described the moment from her perspective.
“It was amazing,” she said. “She came down, and it was like the happiest I’ve ever seen her. She was crying, just of happiness. It was so cool.” She added she knew her daughter was in good hands because Jason Kelce is the father of three daughters.
“He was so kind to her,” she said. “I was just so thankful that he gave her the chance to see Taylor because she was — she was standing up there at the top of the bleachers with her sign just waiting and hoping and so brave — she climbed all the way to the top.” The Jan. 21 game was filled with Kelce family moments, including another Swift appearance to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. In addition to Swift, Travis Kelce’s brother and sister-in-law, Kylie Kelce, were also in attendance.
Jessica Piazza opened up to TODAY about the moment the Philadelphia Eagles center helped her daughter say hi to Swift in another interview on Jan. 22. “I had no idea how viral it was until I woke up at 6 a.m. this morning to a thousand texts from friends who saw it first on Barstool Sports and then everywhere!” Piazza, who is a longtime Bills fan, told TODAY. In video captured of the moment, Jason Kelce holds up Ella as she shows her sign, which reads, “Buffalo Bills + Taylor Swift — Best First Game Ever,” to Swift and waves hello.