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Taylor Swift will skip the 2025 MTV VMAs despite being nominated for Artist of the Year, just months after her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce.
Taylor Swift’s new album will be released on October 3. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Taylor Swift fans hoping to see the superstar light up the stage at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards will be disappointed. The 35-year-old pop icon will not be attending this year’s ceremony, scheduled for Sunday at New York’s UBS Arena. The news, confirmed by Page Six, comes as a surprise given that Swift is nominated for the coveted Artist of the Year award.
Swift Skips A Big Night
Swift’s absence is striking because of her history with the VMAs. Just last year, she stole the spotlight by winning seven awards, including Video of the Year for her Fortnight collaboration with Post Malone from The Tortured Poets Department. During her acceptance speech, she even gave a heartfelt shout-out to her now-fiancé, Travis Kelce, sharing how his presence on set made the music video shoot feel magical.
The Cruel Summer hitmaker went into the 2024 VMAs with 12 nominations, spanning categories such as Song of the Year, Best Direction, Best Collaboration, Best Cinematography, and Song of the Summer. Her wins cemented her status as one of the night’s biggest stars, with fans praising her dominance and charisma on stage.
This year, Swift is once again up against major names — Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, and The Weeknd — for Artist of the Year. Yet, she won’t be present to celebrate if she takes home the award.
A Busy Personal Life
While no official reason has been given for Swift’s decision, her personal life has been front and center in recent weeks. Just last month, the singer got engaged to Kelce, who proposed in a romantic setup after recording his New Heights podcast. The couple announced the milestone with photos captioned, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨,” instantly sending fans into a frenzy.
Kelce, 35, is currently in Brazil for the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers, which could also explain why the couple will be skipping the glitzy New York event. Swift, meanwhile, is gearing up for the release of her next project, The
Life of a Showgirl.
The couple, who began dating in the summer of 2023, have become one of pop culture’s most talked-about duos. While fans may miss seeing Swift at the VMAs this year, the focus remains on her career highs and personal milestones as she balances superstardom with wedding plans.
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, …Read More
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, … Read More
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Los Angeles, United States of America (USA)
September 06, 2025, 00:01 IST
