Anything can happen in Nashville, and even a random Tuesday night can mean there is a star-studded lineup of artists performing somewhere in Music City.
On Tuesday (June 23), one of the most music-filled venues in Nashville was The Pinnacle, the place to be for the Sports Illustrated and Tight End University’s Tight Ends & Friends Presented by Reese’s. Founded by NFL stars Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Greg Olsen, the event brought together NFL celebs, many of country music’s top artists, and of course, surprise guests.
The concert was part of the multi-day Tight End University, a summit aimed at connecting tight ends on teams across the country for a time of community, training, studying and networking. Kelce, Kittle and Olsen launched the event in 2021.
The June 23 concert featured performances from Dan+Shay, Chase Rice, Jon Pardi, Nate Smith, Mitchell Tenpenny and The War and Treaty, but also featured surprise performances from Brett Young, as well as Lainey Wilson, who brought out her longtime friend, a singer-songwriter she called “just as kind as she talented,” Taylor Swift.
The music superstar and stadium headliner had made a surprise appearance at last year’s Tight Ends & Friends event, and this year, she again surprised the crowd, making for one of the night’s most memorable moments.
Swift also dedicated her performance, telling the crowd, “We have a special request by a very special tight end who wanted to hear a particular song.” While the crowd cheered, likely thinking she was referring to her fiancé, Travis Kelce, she said, “And that tight end…is named George Kittle.”
See below for 5 top moments from the event.
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Nate Smith Turns Performance Into a Crowd Party
Performer Nate Smith started out his brief, hit-filled set (which featured songs including “Bulletproof” and “Whiskey on You”) on the main stage, but quickly decided to get closer to the crowd, and stepped offstage into the standing-room only audience on the main floor. For the majority of his set, he weaved through the crowd, shaking hands with crowd members, getting the audience singing along, and instantly giving the room’s atmosphere an extra jolt of energy. “I’m not going back onstage, I’m partying with you guys tonight,” he said, before closing out his set with another of his Billboard Country Airplay chart-toppers, “World On Fire.”
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The War and Treaty Treat The Crowd To Powerful Vocals
Duo The War and Treaty, who just released their latest project The Story of Michael and Tanya, kicked off the evening with a brief performance that showcased their powerful, soulful vocals and their effortless way of charming a crowd. They also introduced new music, performing the grooving, sultry “Keep You Warm.”
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Mitchell Tenpenny Goes Retro With 1990s Rock Cover
Mitchell Tenpenny offered up his own country songs such as “Drunk Me” during his Tight Ends and Friends set, but he got the crowd into nostalgic party mode when he launched into the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 classic, “Iris.” His growling, full-bodied voice made a perfect match for the song’s angst and got the crowd singing along at top volume.
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Dan + Shay Reprise Their National Anthem Performance
Just weeks after country duo Dan + Shay earned a viral moment with their rendition of the national anthem ahead of the United States Men’s National Team’s opening match against Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they did an impromptu performance of the anthem again at the Tight Ends & Friends event, after an audiencemember yelled out the request. From there, they led the crowd in a hearty performance of the national anthem, punctuated by some chants of “U.S.A!” from the crowd. The duo’s set also included renditions of “10,000 Hours,” “Speechless” and “Tequila.”
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Taylor Swift Surprises with ‘Love Story’
Far and away the buzziest moment of the evening came when Lainey Wilson (herself a surprise performer on the evening’s bill) introduced pop superstar and Wilson’s longtime friend, Taylor Swift, to the stage. The two performed Swift’s “Love Story” to conclude the event.
Wilson noted how full-circle the moment was, telling the crowd how she first saw Swift perform when Wilson was a teen, when Swift performed on a free outdoor stage years ago at CMA Fest.
“The very first year that I came, I got to see this act down on the Riverfront Stage. She was 16. I was 14. And there was like 30 people there. And four of the 30 was me, my mama, my daddy (and) my sister, and it was really special. And it has been so cool to see what she has done. And she is just as kind as she is talented. Y’all welcome to the stage my friend, Taylor Swift.”
The two launched into “Love Story,” a massive hit from Swift’s 2008 sophomore album Fearless, with Swift even flashing her engagement ring during the song’s lyric, “he knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring” as the room filled with light from the numerous fans taking photos and video of the moment.
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