The Psychology Behind Our Joy Over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Engagement

Lianne Perry, MA, MSc., RCC

Unless you’ve been living under a Wi-Fi–less rock, you’ve probably heard the news: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. And if your reaction was somewhere between squealing like a teenager at a sleepover and texting “LOVE IS REAL” to your best friend, you’re not alone.

Now, full disclosure: I might be a little biased. I’ve been a Kansas City Chiefs fan for years (yes, even before it was cool to wear friendship bracelets to football games). I was cheering for Travis long before he became half of “Traylor.” And I’ve also been a Taylor Swift fan for years — though at my age, I suspect I’m a bit older than the average Swiftie. (My knees may not survive the Eras Tour, but my heart? Absolutely still in it.)

So yes, I may be the target audience for this cultural crossover event — football, fairy-tale romance, and a soundtrack I already know by heart. But even if you don’t know a touchdown from a treble clef, there’s something universal about why this engagement makes us feel so much joy.

Let’s break it down.

Two champagne glasses filled with sparkling wine overlooking the ocean, symbolizing joy, celebration, and new beginnings.

We’re Wired for Connection (Even With People We’ve Never Met)

There’s a psychological term for the bonds we form with celebrities: parasocial relationships. It sounds fancy, but it just means we feel like we “know” someone, even if they don’t know us back.

Think of it this way: your brain doesn’t make a hard distinction between real-life friendships and the familiarity you’ve built watching Taylor grow from a teenage country singer to the global force she is today. Add Travis into the mix, charismatic, goofy, clearly head-over-cleats in love, and suddenly we’re invested like they’re our next-door neighbours.

It’s not silly. It’s human. We’re wired to seek connection, to mirror others’ emotions, and to celebrate when “our people” (even if they’re famous strangers) find happiness.

Engagements Mean Hope, Possibility, and New Beginnings

Beyond the parasocial piece, engagements carry powerful symbolism. They’re about commitment, fresh chapters, and daring to believe in the future. And let’s be honest, the world feels heavy a lot of the time, especially now. News cycles are filled with conflict, uncertainty, and stress. Against that backdrop, the Swift–Kelce love story lands like a warm hug: proof that joy is still possible, even in unpredictable times.

Taylor’s public story makes this even more powerful. She’s written albums full of heartbreak and betrayal, and many people see pieces of their own lives in her songs. Watching her step into a new season of love feels like the narrative arc we all hope for: yes, heartbreak happens, but healing and trust are possible again.

It’s like watching your favourite character finally get their happy ending, except this time, it’s real life.

Shared Joy is Contagious

There’s also something deeply communal happening here. When a cultural moment like this hits, we all get to be part of a collective celebration. Whether you’re a lifelong Swiftie, a football fan, or just someone scrolling Instagram, you’re swept up in a kind of borrowed joy.

Psychologists call this “emotional contagion”: we actually catch the feelings of people around us. And in this case, millions of strangers are joyfully passing the confetti bucket around together.

It’s no small thing. Shared joy counters the isolation so many of us feel. It reminds us we’re not alone in craving love, hope, and stability. Forget the stock market, this is the kind of stability people really want to invest in.

What It Reveals About Us

So why does this matter beyond the celebrity headlines? Because it tells us something about our collective longing.

• We want stories where love wins.

• We crave reminders that commitment and devotion are possible.

• We need hope that even after hard chapters, joy can return.

When we’re captivated by an engagement like Taylor and Travis’s, it’s not just about them, it’s about us. We’re seeing our own dreams reflected back, wrapped in sparkles and stadium lights.

Friends sharing food at a dinner table, symbolizing community, connection, and the joy of being together.

How to Borrow That Hope for Yourself

Here’s the best part: we don’t have to stop at watching from the sidelines. The hope this kind of news stirs up can actually be a mirror, nudging us to ask: What brings me joy? Where do I feel hopeful about the future?

Maybe it’s not an engagement ring but starting a new hobby, reconnecting with an old friend, or allowing yourself to believe that good things can still happen in your story too.

Borrowed joy is like a spark, but you get to decide whether you’ll let it light something in your own life.

A Gentle Reminder

If you’re in a season where this kind of news stings, maybe you’re single, going through a breakup, or grieving, that’s valid too. You don’t have to plaster on excitement if it doesn’t feel true. Sometimes hope feels far away, and seeing other people’s happiness can highlight that ache.

Here’s the truth: your story isn’t over. Engagements, weddings, or celebrity love stories don’t get to set the timeline for your healing or your happiness. You’re allowed to hold both, happiness for others, and gentleness for yourself.

Closing Thought

So, why are we all giddy about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement? Because it’s more than celebrity news. It’s a reminder that love can surprise us, that joy is contagious, and that hope is worth holding onto, even when the world feels uncertain.

Whether or not you’ll be buying a “Swift–Kelce 2025” commemorative mug, you can let their story inspire you to stay open to the possibility of joy in your own life.

Because at the end of the day, love, in all its forms, is something worth celebrating.

✨ If you find yourself craving more hope or wanting to rewrite your own story after heartbreak, therapy can be a powerful place to do that. It doesn’t mean forgetting the past, it means opening space for joy and connection again. If that resonates, I’d be honoured to walk alongside you in that journey.

About Lianne

I’m Lianne Perry, a therapist in BC who works online with clients across Canada. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, and life transitions, and I’m certified in EMDR — a powerful approach that helps people heal without having to relive every detail of the past. My sessions are grounded, collaborative, and often a mix of talk therapy and practical tools. When I’m not in session, you’ll probably find me hiking with my Aussie, Joey, or sitting by the ocean (my favourite co-therapist).