Taylor Swift and her two besties gave a hilarious nod to some legendary artists while watching the NBA Finals on Wednesday night – but were they more than just clever gags about the New York Knicks?
The pop megastar headed to her rumored Madison Square Garden wedding venue with friends Alana and Este Haim for the Knicks’ historic Game 4 comeback against the San Antonio Spurs, where they sat next to a host of A-list names courtside.
There was no sign of her fiance Travis Kelce, who is in Kansas City for mandatory minicamp with the Chiefs, meaning she was free to enjoy an evening dubbed by some fans as ‘night one of her bachelorette party’ in the Big Apple.
On her big girls’ night out, Swift and her crew pulled on blue-and-orange T-shirts which featured Knicks-inspired twists on three famous names.
Her own top had ‘Stevie Knicks’ emblazoned across the front, a clever tweak on Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks, while Alana and Este wore ‘Knickole Kidman’ and ‘Knickelback’ on their shirts – referencing actress and singer Nicole Kidman and legendary rock band Nickelback.
And while at first glance all three names simply appear to be witty plays on the word ‘Knicks’, a closer look may suggest that Swift was actually dropping a hint about the performers at her wedding this summer.
Taylor Swift and her besties gave a hilarious nod to some legendary artists at the NBA Finals
The trio wore shirts with Knicks-inspired twists on Nickelback, Nicole Kidman and Stevie Nicks
Starting with Nicks, the 78-year-old has enjoyed a close relationship with Swift ever since they performed at the 2010 Grammys together.
She praised her protege’s ‘determination’ and ‘childlike nature’ at the time while adding: ‘This girl writes songs that make the whole world sing.’
Swift has been able to lean on Nicks for some precious advice over the past 16 years, describing herself as being ‘very lucky.’
‘I have Stevie Nicks in my life in a way that affects me positively constantly,’ she said on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in December. ‘Being able to talk with her and have a phone call with her and hear what she’s been through… she paved the way for me and many other artists out there.’
Given they maintain such a warm friendship, and the fact there are few singers more celebrated than the Fleetwood Mac great, Swift’s T-shirt at the NBA Finals could have been a hint that Nicks will be singing at her wedding, which is expected to be held at Madison Square Garden on July 3.
Kidman has not served as such an influential mentor for Swift, but the pair are still very fond of one another after crossing paths on several occasions over the years.
Her friendship with Taylor began when she famously ditched her husband Keith’s tour to attend the pop star’s concert in 2018.
But were the T-shirts actually a major hint about Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding in July?
Swift has enjoyed a close relationship with Nicks since they performed at the 2010 Grammys
She revealed back in December that she often calls the Fleetwood Mac legend for advice
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That same year, the Australian star shared a photo of her and Swift on Instagram and wrote as the caption: ‘Thank you @taylorswift for your kindness to my girls and me. Beautiful woman inside and out…and your talent is extraordinary.’
And two years later, Kidman confirmed her bond with Swift was as strong as ever as she publicly praised her new album, Folklore, on social media.
She shared a throwback video from the set of her 2017 film The Beguiled, in which she wore an outfit very similar to the one worn by Taylor on her album cover.
‘On the set of #BeguiledMovie #Folklore Sisters… Love this album xx,’ Nicole wrote in the caption.
Taylor quickly thanked Nicole for her kind feedback, commenting under the post: ‘This just made me GRIN. You’re the greatest.’
Kidman is primarily known as an actress, but she produced critically acclaimed vocal performances in film soundtracks and duets throughout her career, opening the door for a potential role at Swift and Kelce’s wedding alongside Nicks.
And what about Nickelback?
Although it’s a bit more of a stretch, Kelce has brought up the Canadian group on a previous episode of his and older brother Jason’s New Heights podcast.
Kidman has also spoken glowingly about Swift over the years amid their warm friendship
The Australian actress and singer could be set to perform at her wedding alongside Nicks
Kelce has previously mentioned legendary rock band Nickelback on his New Heights podcast
After releasing their own charity Christmas single ‘Fairytale of Philadelphia’ in 2023, Jason was commenting on his husky voice in the song when Travis told him: ‘That’s the Nickelback in you.’
Perhaps the ‘How You Remind Me’ band have also been lined up for the wedding of the summer, which appears set to go ahead at MSG this summer.
An insider exclusively told Daily Mail last week that Swift is set to marry Kelce at the Manhattan arena on July 3 after the couple decided to ’embrace the spectacle’ of a giant wedding.
The source also revealed that Taylor and Travis were considering Casa Cipriani in Manhattan’s Financial District as a potential venue prior to settling on the home of the Knicks, which can accommodate up to 22,000 people.
It’s unclear just how many people will be invited to witness them tie the knot, yet fans are expected to be invited to celebrate.
A ticket to MSG for Game 4 on Wednesday was the hottest in town. As of Wednesday afternoon, the cheapest were being sold for around $4,000 as the Knicks eye their first championship since 1973.
Swift went wild as the Knicks produced the biggest comeback in NBA Playoff history in Game 4
Swift joins a number of A-list stars on celebrity row at MSG, including die-hard Knicks fans Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee.
Chalamet was also sat courtside with girlfriend Kylie Jenner as the Knicks produced a staggering 29-point recovery to move 3-1 ahead in the series, going down as the largest comeback in NBA Playoff history.
Swift was seen going wild when OG Anunoby produced the game-winning shot at the death to seal an astonishing 107-106 victory which has left the Knicks on the cusp of glory.
They will now bid to win the franchise’s first championship since 1973 in San Antonio this weekend, with Game 5 to come on Saturday night.
