Travis Kelce made waves when he hosted “Saturday Night Live” in March 2023. Now, “SNL” cast member Heidi Gardner is sharing the inside scoop on how she managed to convince him to take on the hosting duties.
During an episode of the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, Gardner revealed that she had been pushing for Kelce to host the show for years. As a big Kansas City Chiefs fan, Gardner had noticed Kelce’s comedic talent in various acting gigs and appearances and believed he would be a perfect fit for “SNL.”
After presenting a category together at the 2023 ESPY Awards, Gardner’s persistence paid off. Executive producer Lorne Michaels agreed to let Kelce host the show, but with one condition – Kelce had to win the Super Bowl first.
Gardner admitted that she felt the pressure of asking Kelce to achieve such a feat, but to her surprise, Kelce and the Chiefs emerged victorious in 2020, 2023, and 2024.
On the night of Kelce’s hosting gig, Gardner was pleasantly surprised to see many of Kelce’s friends and family in attendance. She had doubts about whether the Kelces would have time to join her for some pre-show tailgating, but those doubts were quickly dispelled when she received a text.
Opening her phone, Gardner was greeted with a photo of Travis and Jason Kelce enjoying barbecue in her dressing room. Kelce made history as the only “SNL” host to tailgate before taking the stage.
While many fans now associate Kelce with Taylor Swift, their public relationship began six months after Kelce’s hosting stint on “SNL.” Since then, Kelce has ventured into acting, starring in the FX show “Grotesquerie” and securing a role in the upcoming “Happy Gilmore 2,” set to premiere on Netflix in 2025.
Kelce’s foray into comedy and acting has undoubtedly cemented his status as a multi-talented entertainer, and his memorable hosting gig on “SNL” will always be a highlight in his career.
