Jason and Travis Kelce brought their “New Heights” podcast to… new heights… on Thursday night.
In front of a raucous crowd inside Fifth Third Arena on the campus of the University of Cincinnati, the Kelce brothers hosted a start-studded live edition of their podcast that included the likes of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and fellow members of the Kelce clan.
Football’s most famous brothers were even given a surprise graduation ceremony at the brothers’ alma mater.
“Travis and I are both incredibly honored and it’s crazy that we’re being put in positions to stuff like this,” Jason told reporters before the live podcast event. “But anytime we come back there’s such a way of emotion and memories that really hit you, especially walking into this room. You spend so much time here and as a student-athlete, you’re invested into the football program, the university.
“You’re here non-stop and it’s such a big part of anybody’s career or life that whenever you come back it definitely hits you full force.”
No better moment symbolized Jason and Travis’ love of the university than when the two were given their diplomas, making the younger Kelce brother emotional.
Travis, who finished his coursework in 2022 to earn his bachelor’s degree, accepted his while the Beastie Boys’ hit song “Fight For Your Right” blared in the background, and he then chugged the beer had been holding — much to the delight of the crowd.
The night was filled with plenty of fun that ranged from an electric entrance for both Travis and Jason before the start of the show to several nods to Travis’ relationship with Taylor Swift and, of course, an appearance by Burrow, who was given a hero’s welcome.
The Bengals quarterback addressed everything from the rivalry between the Chiefs and the Bengals — “I think we’re built to beat them,” Burrow told the Kelce brothers — to his take on taunting in the NFL.
“Yeah, I’m pro taunting” he said.
He also explained a post of his on X about aliens.
“I mean where are they?” Burrow asked when explaining the alien post. “I feel like somebody’s gotta know.”
Donna Kelce, the brothers’ mother, was on hand to see her sons’ first live show and she was seen handing out Subway sandwiches before the event.
Kylie Kelce, the wife of Jason, was on hand as well but tried to keep a low profile, hiding her face behind a Jason cutout when she was shown on the arena’s video board.
The university had expected 12,500 people for Thursday’s podcast event, and students were let out of class early, Fox 19 reported.
