Taylor Swift recently opened up about why her longtime friend and collaborator, Ed Sheeran, didn’t know about her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce until the couple made the announcement on Instagram. The revelation came during a lively appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, where Swift played a chaotic game of “Four Lies and a Truth,” exposing several rumors about her life and career.
Among the statements presented, one of the rumors suggested that Sheeran had learned about Swift’s engagement through social media. Fallon read it aloud, joking, “I think it would be funny if Ed Sheeran learned about your engagement on Instagram.” Swift laughed and, with a mixture of amusement and embarrassment, confirmed, “That’s so true.” The moment left Fallon flabbergasted, even collapsing onto the studio floor in shock.
Swift quickly offered an explanation. “I have a perfect explanation,” she said, defending herself. “He doesn’t have a phone!” Swift went on to describe Sheeran’s eccentric approach to communication. She noted that, while many people automatically reach for their phones or send quick text messages, Ed operates differently. “This is one thing I do love about him, it’s very eccentric. Love it! But when I’m going through, being like, ‘Hey, hey, who should we call? Who should we FaceTime?’ I’m going through my texts and checking who I’ve messaged recently. And he just wasn’t there.”
Fallon, trying to keep the humor going, quipped, “How do you get ahold of him? The Bat Signal?” To which Swift replied with a laugh, detailing the process required to contact Sheeran. “You have to email him,” she explained. “And if you want to set up a FaceTime, he has to find an iPad, and they have to give it to him like you would give an iPad to a child.” She added, smiling, “This is one of my absolute favorite people on the planet. And then when the news came out, I was like, ‘Oh my God! We forgot to call Ed!’” She emphasized that Sheeran is “like family, but he doesn’t have a phone.”
Swift and Kelce, who have been in a relationship for two years, officially announced their engagement on August 26. The NFL player proposed in a private garden, keeping the news under wraps for two weeks before the Instagram post went public. The playful announcement read, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” immediately sparking excitement among fans and the media.
Given Sheeran’s long-standing preference for limited phone use, it’s perhaps unsurprising that he learned about Swift’s engagement from Instagram. Since 2015, Sheeran has eschewed owning a personal smartphone, opting instead to use an iPad and check emails only once a week. This approach allows him to limit screen time and focus on real-life interactions rather than being constantly tethered to technology. Despite stepping away from traditional social media habits, Sheeran remains active online, occasionally sharing updates and interacting with fans, but his communication style is decidedly unconventional.
Even without a smartphone, Sheeran remains closely connected to Swift and her life events. In a recent interview on the U.K.’s Hits Radio Breakfast Show, Swift recounted reuniting with Sheeran at Selena Gomez’s wedding to Benny Blanco on September 27 in Santa Barbara, California. During the celebration, the longtime friends caught up, reminiscing about their past collaborations and the joy of working together.
When host Fleur East asked if Sheeran might perform at Swift’s upcoming wedding, she playfully acknowledged the inevitability. “Oh, it would be hard to keep him from it, I think,” Swift said. “That’s the thing, he’s like, ‘I’m always being asked to sing at weddings.’ It’s like, ‘Ed, if there is a stage, you know you’ll be on it.’ He knows what people want, and he wants to give people what they want.” This playful exchange highlighted the mutual admiration and warmth that has defined their friendship for over a decade.
Swift and Sheeran’s professional relationship began in 2012 with their duet “Everything Has Changed,” featured on Swift’s Red album. The collaboration was a critical and commercial success, and Sheeran later joined Swift as an opening act on her Red stadium tour. Ten years later, they reunited for the 2022 single “The Joker and the Queen,” further cementing their musical bond. Their friendship extends beyond recording studios and stages; Sheeran frequently joins Swift on tour, including her Eras Tour, where he has made surprise appearances at Wembley Stadium, much to the delight of fans.
Reflecting on their personal connection, Sheeran shared insights during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast with Alex Cooper. At one point, he and Swift both lived in Nashville, spending nearly every day together for about six months while on tour. These intense periods of collaboration allowed them to develop a deep friendship, one built on mutual respect and creative synergy. Today, although they no longer live in the same city, they maintain their bond with quarterly “proper sit-down, six-hour catch-up” sessions—a testament to the effort they both invest in preserving their friendship amidst busy schedules.
The revelation that Sheeran learned of Swift’s engagement via Instagram also underscores a humorous and endearing aspect of celebrity culture: even superstars occasionally miss personal milestones simply because of lifestyle choices or unconventional habits. Swift herself expressed embarrassment at forgetting to notify someone so close, but fans responded with delight, appreciating the candid, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the dynamics of her inner circle.
Moreover, the story highlights the interplay between social media and personal communication in modern life. While Instagram serves as a public announcement platform, traditional methods of informing friends and family—calls, texts, or FaceTime—still hold emotional significance. In Sheeran’s case, his choice to avoid conventional communication methods created a unique scenario where one of Swift’s closest friends was caught off guard by major life news.
Swift and Kelce’s engagement has since become a focal point of media coverage, with fans eagerly anticipating details about their wedding plans. While Swift has maintained her trademark discretion regarding personal matters, the playful nature of their announcement, combined with her humorous recounting of forgetting to inform Sheeran, adds a relatable and humanizing layer to their public personas.
The enduring friendship between Swift and Sheeran serves as a reminder that genuine relationships can thrive despite distance, hectic schedules, and unconventional lifestyles. Their story exemplifies a rare balance of professional collaboration and personal intimacy, illustrating that even in the whirlwind of fame, meaningful connections can persist.
As Swift prepares for her upcoming nuptials with Kelce, it is evident that Sheeran will remain an integral part of her life. From shared stage performances to heartfelt catch-ups and now playful Instagram mishaps, their friendship continues to flourish. The narrative of Swift forgetting to call Sheeran before announcing her engagement not only entertains but also offers insight into the complex web of modern celebrity friendships, where technology, privacy, and personal quirks intersect in unpredictable ways.
In conclusion, the tale of Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and Ed Sheeran’s Instagram revelation is more than just a humorous anecdote—it reflects enduring friendship, the challenges of communication in a digital age, and the warmth and loyalty that underpin Swift and Sheeran’s relationship. Even without a phone, Ed Sheeran remains in the loop, a steadfast presence in Taylor’s life, ready to celebrate milestones and share in her joy, whether via iPad, FaceTime, or surprise stage appearances. Their story is a testament to friendship that transcends technology, schedules, and even Instagram notifications.
