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As Taylor Swift walked the red carpet at the VMAs 2026, photographers made a sweet nod to her husband Travis Kelce, whom she married in July.
By Olivia Evans Sep 28, 2026 1:04 PM | Updated 3 hours ago
Taylor Swift Dedicates Top Prize at MTV VMAs 2026 to “Ultimate Showgirl” Dolly Parton
Photographers were calling Taylor Swift differently on the megaphone.
After the Grammy winner arrived at the 2026 MTV VMAs, sporting her freshly chopped hair and Tamara Ralph Haute Couture gown, she was delivered a sweet nothing referencing her husband Travis Kelce on the red carpet.
As Swift walked down the line to get her photos taken Sept. 27 outside of the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, photographers continually called her “Mrs. Kelce!” to get her attention.
Ever the professional, Swift maintained her red carpet smize before exiting to take her seat at the ceremony.
And though Kelce could not be there to support his wife during the award ceremony—the Kansas City Chiefs had a game against the Miami Dolphins during the show—he subtly pledged allegiance to her team from afar, dropping several likes across social media of Swift’s red carpet look.
Meanwhile, Swift felt plenty of love during the VMAs, as she became the inaugural recipient of the Artist Director Award, and officially surpassed Beyoncé to become the most decorated artist in VMAs history with 33 awards.
During her final win of the evening for Video of the Year for “Fate of Ophelia,” Swift also shared her lovely bouquet with Dolly Parton, who died in August at 80 years old.
“Lastly but most importantly I want to thank and dedicate this award to one person without whom this wouldn’t be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl Dolly Parton,” Swift said while accepting her Moon Person. “Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich—listening to her songs, it’s like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life every single time you hear what she has written.”
The 36-year-old went on to praise Parton’s ability to handle the spotlight.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
“She handled this thing with so much grace and joy and love and gratitude for the fact that she got to do this,” Swift mused. “Everything that happened in her life and in her career, she channeled back into love and gratitude and appreciation for her fans. I’m lucky I got to be one of them and I will always be one of them.”
Swift concluded, “I think we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time and thank you for this amazing moment, I love you all.”
For more stars who stepped out at the 2026 VMAs, keep reading…
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