By Mark Gray
8:00am PDT, Apr 29, 2024
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Amid a slew of fawning reviews from critics, the most famous pop star in the world started breaking records on the very first day of release and by week's end, she'd racked up even more accolades: "The Tortured Poets Department " — the double album dropped by Grammy-winning music icon Taylor Swift on April 19 — became her 14th chart-topping album. On top of that, "TTPD" debuted with 2.61 million equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week, Billboard reported, and set a record for the largest streaming week for an album ever, the largest sales week for an album on vinyl in the modern era (with 859K) and more.
Taylor also tied JAY-Z for the most No. 1s among solo artists in the Billboard chart's seven-decade history. That leaves just The Beatles, who have 19 No. 1 albums, ahead of her.
Taylor took to Instagram to share a message with fans in light of the news, writing, "My mind is blown. I'm completely floored by the love you've shown this album. 2.6 million ARE YOU ACTUALLY SERIOUS?? Thank you for listening, streaming, and welcoming 'Tortured Poets' into your life. Feeling completely overwhelmed. I was already so fired up to get back to the [Eras] tour but you doing THIS?? May 9th can't come soon enough."
The songwriting masterpiece — which is making headlines not only for its takedowns of actor Joe Alwyn and The 1975 frontman Matt Healy but for its thrilling tracks about Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce ("So High School" and "The Alchemy" are believed to be odes to the "New Heights" podcast host) — is also inspiring a lot of exciting reactions from fans… including many in the NFL and entertainment worlds.
Join us as we take a look at some of the best reactions from sports stars and their spouses, entertainers and more…
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"And @tkelce has officially made it… Taylor Swift's new album 'The Tortured Poets' has TWO songs about Kelce. 'The Alchemy' and 'So High School.' #Swifties in pandemonium" —former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel
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"TPD [fire emojis] @taylorswift13″ —college football coach Lane Kiffin
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"All's fair in [brotherly] love and poetry" –the official X account for the Philadelphia Eagles wrote
Travis Kelce's brother, Jason Kelce, played for the Eagles for 13 seasons.
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"I'm so happy for @tkelce. That had to be insanely dope to listen to the first time," Pat McAfee tweeted.
On his eponymous ESPN show, he said, "If you listen to the songs and some of the narratives, football created the one … that 'So High School' song. His boys get a shoutout. … His dad gets a shoutout. … I'm thankful that Taylor Swift has met a football guy because I think what's coming on the next album is about to be the most 'I found it.' Since the very beginning we said these two might be perfect for each other. Taylor Swift is a workhorse, beast, genius — you name it — high level. Travis Kelce, same thing, but at a position where he's not the famous guy in the room, so being the guy that's with Taylor Swift is not a problem. Some of these other guys, it was like they couldn't handle the shadow. I'm incredibly pumped for both of them."
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"#KIMKARDASHIAN GOT WRECKED. I NEED TO SEE HER KID SINGING LYRICS ABOUT WHAT A DIRTBAG HER MOTHER IS. 'And one day, your kid comes home singing a song that only us two is gonna know is about you.' #thanKyouaIMee No defining clues besides capitalizing her name. I love Taylor," Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy tweeted.
"#ThanKyouaIMee is Taylor Swift's magnum opus. A masterpiece! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Sing it, North West! SING IT!!!!" he added.
He later wrote, "I'm slowly wading through all the secret album songs but Travis Kelce watching 'American Pie' every Sat night is right on brand. #SoHighSchool."
Finally, he tweeted, "Taylor is arguably the greatest singer/songwriter diss track writer ever. You don't have to love her, but if you don't respect her otherworldly talent, you are a hater #TTPD."
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"Let's gooooooo," Brittany Mahomes, who's married to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wrote on her Instagram Story alongside Taylor's "The Tortured Poets Department" album-release post. She added three hand-clapping emojis for good measure.
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"I don't know if I want to see another four months of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce coverage." —Kelly Stafford, who's married to Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford
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Matt Bushman's wife, Emily Bushman, took to her Instagram Story to share a selfie with her husband, plus Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce and another couple on New Year's Eve in 2023. "Matt out here leaving Easter eggs," she wrote across the snap.
She later shared a photo of herself and another woman showing their stunned reactions to Taylor's new album. "Our faces at this double album right now," she wrote.
Emily's husband, by the way, plays for the Kansas City Chiefs with Travis.
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"The best art is created from struggle and sadness… da anthology is sad and real and Taylor… It makes me wanna punch anyone that hurt that woman's feelings… but no one can punch them worse than Taylor and her piano and pen. Happy she found happiness" —Flavor Flav
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"This is saying I was moved to be mentioned in the company of the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Thank you, Taylor." —music legend Patti Smith, who is mentioned in the title track on the album
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Taylor Swift sings of Clara Bow on her new song inspired by the 1920s actress, "This town is fake, but you're the real thing."
Clara's great-granddaughter, Nicole Sisneros, told People magazine she got "chills" listening to the track, which she said "poetically draws parallels between Clara Bow and Taylor."
"[They're] both raw and amazingly talented artists," Nicole said. "My family and I love the song and are thankful for Taylor connecting with Clara's legacy through her songwriting."
Another great-granddaughter, Brittany Grace Bell, said, "Clara was a 'rose' that was picked by the men of Hollywood who capitalized on her fame and talent. I think it perfectly encapsulates how she would feel as the 'it' girl of Hollywood."
"It's really remarkable for Clara to be back in the media attention, 100 years later. That's a testament to her legacy. I hope this inspires the younger generation to learn about Clara's story and feel inspired by her perseverance," she added.
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"Favorites so far…. 1. So Long London 2. Guilty as Sin? 3. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" —Reese Witherspoon, on her Instagram Story
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Pop star Camila Cabello — who opened for Taylor Swift on the "Reputation" stadium tour in 2018 — took to her Instagram Story to share her thoughts on the Travis Kelce-inspired song "So Long High School," writing "tummy flutters" alongside several butterfly emojis, ending her post with "ily bro @taylorswift."
