Heidi Gardner Reveals Lorne Michaels' 1 Condition for Travis Kelce to HostSNLAfter 'Years' of Her Asking

Mar. 15, 2025

Travis Kelce and Heidi Gardner doing promos for ‘Saturday Night Live’ on March 2, 2023.Photo:Rosalind OConnor/NBC via Getty

Rosalind OConnor/NBC via Getty

Heidi GardnerisTravis Kelce’s #1 fan!TheSaturday Night Livestar, 41, revealed on a recent episode of theNot Skinny But Not Fatpodcast that she long advocated for Kelce, 35, to host the beloved sketch show — butLorne Michaelshad one big condition.“The biggest swing I ever did in that department, and it did work, but it took a couple years, was Travis Kelce,” Gardner recalled. “I don’t want to take full credit from the show and the talent department, but I am obviously a big Chiefs fan, and I had seen him do other little acting gigs and appearances.“She continued, “He’s funny, he’s charming. I had done the ESPYs with him, announcing something together.“Heidi Gardner attends the WSJ. Magazine 2024 Innovator Awards on October 29, 2024 in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris/GettyKelceultimately hosted the showfor a season 48 episode in 2023, which Gardner noted was just before he went public with his relationship withTaylor Swift.“He was doing stuff,” the comedian said. “His talents were already on their way.“She explained that Michaels told her that Kelce had to “win the Super Bowl” before he could host. “I was like, ‘That is so much pressure to ask!’ And then he won the Super Bowl!” Gardner said.TheShrinkingactress, who appeared ina sketchwith Kelce andhis brother Jason, said she threw a tailgate party with her loved ones in her dressing room the night of the show.Travis Kelce and Heidi Gardner on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Caro Scarimbolo/NBC via Getty"I was like, ‘I’m gonna have a tailgate in my room’ because Arrowhead Stadium is famous for tailgating,” she said, adding that she had barbecue on the menu.Gardner told Kelce about the tailgate but did not expect him to show up as he would be crunched on time as the show host.“That morning, he was so nice. Jeff, one of our guys in the talent department knocked on my dressing room, and I opened it, and he had these cans of tequila sodas,” she said. “He’s like, these are from Travis for the tailgate.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The comedian still felt that he wouldn’t show because of the brief time between dress rehearsal and the show airing.“I had run to go get my makeup done before the live show, and that’s when your guests that’ll be in your dressing room start arriving,” Gardner said. “So my brothers are getting there. They’re texting me like, ‘We’re in.’ My best friend, Michelle – people are getting there. I’m just like, ‘Oh, cool. It’s gonna be a great show. I’m just getting my make-up,’ and then I get another text.“Jason and Travis Kelce pose for a photo during Game 1 of the NLCS between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, October 16, 2023 in Philadelphia.Gabriella Ricciardi/MLB Photos via GettyShe opened the text message to a photo of the Kelce brothers eating barbecue in her dressing room. “I just know for a fact that’s the only host inSNLhistory that’s ever tailgated before hosting,” Gardner added.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Since appearing on the show, Kelce has expanded his acting resume with aguest spot in Ryan Murphy’s horror seriesGrotesquerieand ahosting gig on the Prime Video game showAre You Smarter than a Celebrity?In May,Gardnersaid onToday with Hoda & Jennathat shewent the extra mileto make Kelce feel comfortable during hisSNLgig.“I was very protective,” she said. “I asked him questions, which also, as a sports fan, I’m just interested in, but I was like, ‘On game day, what do you eat?’ And he was like, ‘Uncrustables. I’m just pounding Uncrustables.'“Gardner recalled going to the store to buy Kelce the snack on show day.“I was like, ‘I want this to feel as much like home as it can,'” she said.Saturday Night Liveairs Sundays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Heidi GardnerisTravis Kelce’s #1 fan!

TheSaturday Night Livestar, 41, revealed on a recent episode of theNot Skinny But Not Fatpodcast that she long advocated for Kelce, 35, to host the beloved sketch show — butLorne Michaelshad one big condition.

“The biggest swing I ever did in that department, and it did work, but it took a couple years, was Travis Kelce,” Gardner recalled. “I don’t want to take full credit from the show and the talent department, but I am obviously a big Chiefs fan, and I had seen him do other little acting gigs and appearances.”

She continued, “He’s funny, he’s charming. I had done the ESPYs with him, announcing something together.”

Heidi Gardner attends the WSJ. Magazine 2024 Innovator Awards on October 29, 2024 in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Kelceultimately hosted the showfor a season 48 episode in 2023, which Gardner noted was just before he went public with his relationship withTaylor Swift.

“He was doing stuff,” the comedian said. “His talents were already on their way.”

She explained that Michaels told her that Kelce had to “win the Super Bowl” before he could host. “I was like, ‘That is so much pressure to ask!’ And then he won the Super Bowl!” Gardner said.

TheShrinkingactress, who appeared ina sketchwith Kelce andhis brother Jason, said she threw a tailgate party with her loved ones in her dressing room the night of the show.

Travis Kelce and Heidi Gardner on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Caro Scarimbolo/NBC via Getty

Caro Scarimbolo/NBC via Getty

“I was like, ‘I’m gonna have a tailgate in my room’ because Arrowhead Stadium is famous for tailgating,” she said, adding that she had barbecue on the menu.

Gardner told Kelce about the tailgate but did not expect him to show up as he would be crunched on time as the show host.

“That morning, he was so nice. Jeff, one of our guys in the talent department knocked on my dressing room, and I opened it, and he had these cans of tequila sodas,” she said. “He’s like, these are from Travis for the tailgate.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The comedian still felt that he wouldn’t show because of the brief time between dress rehearsal and the show airing.

“I had run to go get my makeup done before the live show, and that’s when your guests that’ll be in your dressing room start arriving,” Gardner said. “So my brothers are getting there. They’re texting me like, ‘We’re in.’ My best friend, Michelle – people are getting there. I’m just like, ‘Oh, cool. It’s gonna be a great show. I’m just getting my make-up,’ and then I get another text.”

Jason and Travis Kelce pose for a photo during Game 1 of the NLCS between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, October 16, 2023 in Philadelphia.Gabriella Ricciardi/MLB Photos via Getty

Gabriella Ricciardi/MLB Photos via Getty

She opened the text message to a photo of the Kelce brothers eating barbecue in her dressing room. “I just know for a fact that’s the only host inSNLhistory that’s ever tailgated before hosting,” Gardner added.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Since appearing on the show, Kelce has expanded his acting resume with aguest spot in Ryan Murphy’s horror seriesGrotesquerieand ahosting gig on the Prime Video game showAre You Smarter than a Celebrity?

In May,Gardnersaid onToday with Hoda & Jennathat shewent the extra mileto make Kelce feel comfortable during hisSNLgig.

“I was very protective,” she said. “I asked him questions, which also, as a sports fan, I’m just interested in, but I was like, ‘On game day, what do you eat?’ And he was like, ‘Uncrustables. I’m just pounding Uncrustables.'”

Gardner recalled going to the store to buy Kelce the snack on show day.

“I was like, ‘I want this to feel as much like home as it can,'” she said.

Saturday Night Liveairs Sundays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

source: people.com