Did Bon Jovi outshine Taylor Swift with standing ovation at the Chiefs-Patriots game?

Lisa Gutierrez
·4 min read
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Swifties were left “Livin’ on a Prayer” inside Gillette Stadium on Sunday when the New England Patriots brought out music legend Jon Bon Jovi to cool down Taylor Swift fever.

At least that’s what it seemed like to fans of both on social media, who took Bon Jovi’s appearance as a celebrity vs. celebrity throwdown with Swift in the house to watch boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Chiefs play.

“Shake it up, just like bad medicine” or “Shake it Off?”

“Isn’t this like the Sox trying to one up the Yankees. Ok, Chiefs have Swift, we’ll bring in Bon Jovi. It’s come to that point Pats fans. lol,” tweeted X user David Prince, aka @JeepStorm.

“Move over Taylor Swift,” tweeted one Patriots fan on X, formerly Twitter. “Jon Bon Jovi is in the house and they play his song when the patriots score a touchdown and the whole stadium sings along.”

Just eight months ago, Gillette Stadium belonged to Swift as she played three nights of her monster Eras Tour there, one of those nights in May dancing and singing in the rain during a torrential downpour.

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A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

But Sunday, it became the house of Bon Jovi, with CBS News declaring “it was a favorite Jersey rocker who stole attention from the global superstar ahead of the game.

“Jon Bon Jovi got a huge ovation from Patriots fans ahead of the game as he served as Week 15’s “Keeper of the Light,” ringing the bell atop the lighthouse to get New England fans fired up for the game.”

(That’s like banging the drum before Chiefs games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.)

Before the game, Bon Jovi hung out on the field with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

He is a well-known Friend of Kraft — the singer watches games from the owner’s suite — and also a friend of Patriot’s head coach Bill Belichick.

It’s normal — and dare we say cool? — to see the singer at Patriots’ training camp.

Some fans saw the presence of the two superstars in the same stadium as the possible beginning of a musical dream come true.

Bon Jovi and his eponymous rock band, members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, go out on tour next year. Swift resumes her Eras Tour in February in Japan.

“So let me get this straight… Taylor Swift and Bon Jovi are in the stadium? Feels like a good reason for the Patriots to forfeit and to have a concert,” one fan tweeted.

“Jon & @taylorswift13 in the house! They should have a concert after the game!” tweeted one enthusiastic fan.

We would actually risk Ticketmaster trauma to see that.

“Real question,” wondered one fan on social media. ”Who would be the opener???”