Taylor Swift show shines spotlight on two brothers with KC ties. They aren’t Kelces
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour show in London on Sunday pushed a set of showmen brothers into a new spotlight — and their last name is Saunders, not Kelce.
During the show, Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce surprised fans by joining her on stage at Wembley Stadium.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end came out during the transition from “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” to “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” joining Swift and dancers Kameron Saunders and Jan Ravnik.
Saunders is a University of Missouri-Kansas City graduate who has become a fan favorite on the tour. Seeing Kelce on stage with him — and in videos all over social media — created a full-circle moment that delighted Swifties who know Saunders has a connection to the Chiefs.
Saunders’ brother, NFL defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, played four seasons and in two Super Bowls with the Chiefs before signing as a free agent last year with the New Orleans Saints, where he quickly turned in his most productive season as a pro.
A proud Khalen boasted about his brother Monday.
“Just a couple of the Bros. That boy T-soul was made for this @tkelce x Big Bro. And @taylorswift13,” Khalen tweeted.
He added: “Let me get an audition for the next tour. #ProudBrother”
Swifties are loving the brotherly connection.
“Travis Kelce has now played (with) both Saunders brothers LOL,” one fan tweeted.
“From winning super bowls with khalen saunders to performing on the eras tour in london with kam saunders — the duality of travis kelce and the talent in the saunders family is unmatched,” wrote another.
Kameron Saunders is proud of that family connection to the Chiefs, which he has referenced frequently on his social media.
Last July, just hours before Swift performed two shows at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — where her love story with Kelce began — he posted a photo of himself in the empty stadium wearing his brother’s Chiefs jersey.
The brothers are originally from St. Louis. After graduating from high school, Kameron attended Webster University for two years, then transferred to UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in 2014.
He moved back to St. Louis and taught dance full time and freelanced as a choreographer. In 2019 the Chiefs drafted his brother, and Saunders moved to New York City, where he launched his dance and teaching career.
Saunders might be the choreographer, but his brother has moves too. Check out video clips of the former Chiefs player doing backflips.
And, like his dancer brother, Khalen can play to an audience. He raps under the name Sir Bink$.
“Much like Kameron, Khalen has proven that he can play the role of showman. He has taken over as host of the Saints’ video parody show that’s only been shown to staff members and teammates,” Nola.com wrote last year.
Saunders was chosen for the Eras Tour in late 2022 but waited to share the news on his Instagram account until after Swift’s first performance in March 2023.
After Sunday’s concert Saunders reposted a tweet showing the brothers on their respective stages — Kameron on tour and Khalen in his former Chiefs jersey.
When the Saints posted a TikTok last year asking which players on the team is the biggest Swiftie, Khalen said “might be me.”
“I’ve got my brother performing on the tour with her. I’ve been to a couple of shows, been to a couple of events out there in Vegas,” he said. “I’m just having a good time supporting my brother. I might have title on that one.”
But apparently Saunders’ one degree of separation from the Chiefs wasn’t known by all Swifties before Sunday.
After Kelce performed, one fan tweeted: “Wait… I didn’t know Kam Saunders’ brother Khalen once played on the Chiefs with Travis…??? Am I the last person to find this out??”
“Yes,” another Swiftie replied.
This story was originally published June 24, 2024 at 1:14 PM.
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