CMA Awards hosts Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning had the crowd roaring as they brought up lovebirds Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce during their opening monologue.
Swift, 33, and Kelce, 34, have been the talk of the town — and social media — since kicking off their unlikely romance in late September after weeks of dating rumors.
Bryan and Manning joked that the only reason they were co-hosting the ceremony for a second year in a row was because the pop superstar and the NFL hunk ‘weren’t unavailable.’
‘We are back, and you know what that means…,’ Manning began, with Bryan adding: ‘Yup, Travis and Taylor weren’t available.’
That wasn’t the only nod to Swift as the dynamic duo brought up her sold-out Eras Tour concert at MetLife Stadium in May — and shaded one of the stadium’s home teams.
Ha! CMA Awards hosts Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning had the crowd roaring as they brought up lovebirds Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce during their opening monologue
Talk of the town: Swift, 33, and Kelce, 34, have been the talk of the town — and social media — since kicking off their unlikely romance in late September after weeks of dating rumors; seen in October
‘Luke, do you know the difference between Taylor Swift and the New York Jets,’ Manny asked the country crooner.
Bryan quipped: ‘Uh, Taylor can sell out a stadium.’
Manning — who is a former professional quarterback that now boasts a net worth of $300million after an 18-year career in the NFL — revealed explained why Bryan was the one to fire off that particular zinger.
‘You nailed it. I had you do that punchline, Luke, so I wouldn’t get in trouble,’ the athlete teased.
Despite the light heartedness, the joke appeared to offend the New York Jets corporation, who fired off a response at Manning on their X account.
‘what are we talking about Peyton,’ they tweeted, adding a photo of a packed MetLife Stadium from a previous football game.
The 57th annual Country Music Association Awards were held on Wednesday night at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Along with performances, the event also featured a star-studded red carpet that included appearances by Wynonna Judd, Kelsea Ballerini and Nicole Kidman.
For their hosting gig, Manning and Bryan were dressed to the nines, with the former rocking a tuxedo and the latter turning heads in a black sequin suit jacket.
‘Weren’t available’: Bryan and Manning joked that the only reason they were co-hosting the ceremony for a second year in a row was because the pop superstar and the NFL hunk ‘weren’t unavailable’
‘We are back, and you know what that means…,’ Manning began, with Bryan adding: ‘Yup, Travis and Taylor weren’t available’
They are among the latest celebs to comment on Swift and Kelce’s much talked about relationship.
Yesterday, sportscaster Erin Andrews — who has taken credit for setting up the pair after begging Swift to give Kelce a chance — said that Kelce is looking better than ever since he started dating Swift.
‘He’s having a real glow-up. He looks great,’ she told The Messenger.
The romance kicked off in September, months after Kelce shared that he’d tried to give her his number when she brought her Eras Tour to Missouri in July.
To her fans’ surprise, Swift decided to give the NFL hunk a chance and the pair have since been spotted on several date nights and she’s supported him at his games.
Erin then recalled texting Kelce to express her approval and to let him know how happy she is for him.
‘I texted him and said, “You know I love you and I’m happy you’re having fun.” He’s just such a great dude, and that’s why we were so open about like, “Hey, Taylor, go on a date with our friend,”‘ she said.
Kelce was recently asked about the ‘status’ of their relationship and if he’s ‘in love’ with the Anti-Hero singer.
Shady! That wasn’t the only nod to Swift as the dynamic duo brought up her sold-out Eras Tour concert at MetLife Stadium in May (pictured) — and shaded one of the stadium’s home teams
‘Luke, do you know the difference between Taylor Swift and the New York Jets,’ Manny asked the country crooner. Bryan quipped: ‘Uh, Taylor can sell out a stadium’
Firing back: Despite the light heartedness, the joke appeared to offend the New York Jets corporation, who fired off a response at Manning on their X account
‘The latest status is I got to see her last week. That’s the latest status right there,’ Kelce responded during a press conference with his team in Frankfurt, Germany over the weekend.
‘I’m gonna keep my personal relationship personal.’
After weeks of one-on-one time with Kelce, Swift is now preparing to kick of the South American leg of her Eras Tour.
In exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com, Swift officially touched down in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
She was seen shielding herself with black umbrella as she stepped off her private jet.
There’s been talk as to whether or not Kelce plans to visit Swift as she will be in South America for most of November.
Page Six claimed on Thursday that Kelce will catch his girlfriend’s three shows in Argentina over the weekend.
Talk of the town: Bryan and Manning are among the latest celebs to comment on Swift and Kelce’s relationship; the couple seen in October
Yesterday, sportscaster Erin Andrews — who has taken credit for setting up the pair after begging Swift to give Kelce a chance — said that Kelce is looking better than ever since he started dating Swift; Andrews seen in 2022
Glow-up: ‘He’s having a real glow-up. He looks great,’ Andrews told The Messenger; Swift and Kelce pictured in October
The outlet’s source insisted that he will return to the U.S. on Monday for practice.
The Kansas City Chiefs won’t play again until they face off against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 20
Swift will enjoy a months-long break after performing the last of her three sold-out shows in São Paulo, Brazil on November 24.
This will give the couple plenty of time for their relationship to flourish.
CMA Awards 2023 WINNERS
Entertainer of the year
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Morgan Wallen
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Queen: Lainey Wilson was the biggest winner of the night as she earned FIVE including top honor Entertainer Of The Year
Single of the year
WINNER: “Fast Car” – Luke Combs (Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton, Mix Engineer: Chip Matthews)
“Heart Like A Truck” – Lainey Wilson (Producer: Jay Joyce, Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
“Need A Favor” – Jelly Roll (Producer: Austin Nivarel, Mix Engineer: Jeff Braun)
“Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis (Producer: Paul DiGiovanni, Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley)
“wait in the truck” – HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells, Mix Engineer: Joey Moi)
Album of the year
“Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville” — Ashley McBryde
WINNER: “Bell Bottom Country” — Lainey Wilson
“Gettin’ Old” — Luke Combs
“One Thing At A Time” — Morgan Wallen
“Rolling Up the Welcome Mat” — Kelsea Ballerini
Musical event of the year
“Save Me” — Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson) (Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens)
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Remix)” — Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina (Producer: Zach Crowell)
“Thank God” — Kane Brown (with Katelyn Brown) (Producer: Dann Huff)
WINNER: “wait in the truck” — HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Producers: HARDY, Joey Moi, Jordan Schmidt, Derek Wells)
“We Don’t Fight Anymore” — Carly Pearce (featuring Chris Stapleton) (Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce)
Musician of the year
Jenee Fleenor
Paul Franklin
Rob McNelley
Derek Wells
Charlie Worsham
Vocal duo of the year
Brooks & Dunn
WINNER: Brothers Osborne
Maddie & Tae
Dan + Shay
The War And Treaty
Song of the year
WINNER: “Fast Car” — Songwriter: Tracy Chapman
“Heart Like A Truck” — Songwriters: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
“Next Thing You Know” — Songwriters: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
“Tennessee Orange” — Songwriters: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
“wait in the truck” — Songwriters: Renee Blair, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt
Female vocalist of the year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Male vocalist of the year
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
WINNER: Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
WINNER: Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
New artist of the year
Zach Bryan
WINNER: Jelly Roll
Parker McCollum
Megan Moroney
Hailey Whitters
Inspiration: Jelly Roll was a big winner as he earned New Artist Of The Year and gave an energetic speech
Music video of the year
“Light On In The Kitchen” — Ashley McBryde (Director: Reid Long)
“Memory Lane” — Old Dominion (Directors: Mason Allen, Nicki Fletcher)
“Need A Favor” — Jelly Roll (Director: Patrick Tohill)
“Next Thing You Know” — Jordan Davis (Director: Running Bear)
WINNER: “wait in the truck” — HARDY (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Director: Justin Clough)