Donna Kelce is reflecting on the cost of fame and how it has impacted her life as the mother of two NFL superstars, Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce. In a candid conversation for Glamour’s 2024 Women of the Year: The Moms issue, the 71-year-old opened up about raising her famous sons, navigating their widespread fame, and embracing her role as a grandmother.
As part of a group interview with other notable moms — including Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé and Solange, Maggie Baird, mother of Billie Eilish and Finneas, and Mandy Teefey, mother of Selena Gomez — Donna Kelce shared her thoughts on the challenges of fame.
When asked if she misses doing anything with her boys, Donna was honest about how much fame has limited their ability to enjoy simple, everyday activities.
“We can’t go anywhere, really,” Donna said, referencing her sons, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, 34, and former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, 36. “If we want to do something, you have to rent out the restaurant or the movie theater or whatever.”
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Despite these restrictions, Donna shared that she still finds ways to spend private time with her sons. “I do get to sneak away every once in a while, and we go to places that nobody knows where they are,” she explained.
While she is grateful for the recognition that comes with being the mother of two successful athletes, Donna admits that certain invasions of privacy can be overwhelming. “Most people are very, very respectful,” she said. “But when somebody tries to take a picture of you in the bathroom, I’m like, ‘Whoa.’”
Donna has spoken before about the challenges of being in the spotlight, particularly as her family’s public profile has grown. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in September, she addressed how fame has affected her family. “Everybody knows everything about our family. What they’re doing and who they’re dating and this and that,” she said, referencing the media frenzy surrounding Travis’ relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift. But despite the constant attention, Donna emphasized that she’s “having the time of my life now, more than ever.”
The Kelce family became a global sensation in February 2023 when both Travis and Jason competed against each other in Super Bowl LVII, a matchup that was dubbed the “Kelce Bowl.” The historic event catapulted Donna into the spotlight as the proud mother of two NFL stars, and she quickly became a fan favorite for her down-to-earth personality. Reflecting on the experience, she told said, “It’s been a ride. That’s for sure. Sometimes I feel like I’m on some kind of different planet. I’m like, ‘What has my life become?’”
Though her sons’ fame has brought many new opportunities, Donna remains focused on keeping them grounded. In the Glamour cover story, she shared her approach to reminding Travis and Jason of their humble beginnings. “You just bring up things they did when they were children to show them that they’re like everybody else — how many broken windows there were, how many times I had a call from the neighbor,” she said, laughing.
“They weren’t mean or bad children; they were just very rambunctious,” she added. Donna believes that keeping her sons connected to their childhood and the values they grew up with is key to helping them stay grounded amid their fame. “It’s about bringing them back to their childhood — what they’re most grateful for and where they were able to have a platform to grow.”
Donna Kelce’s life continues to evolve in unexpected ways. She recently represented the Kelce family at the red-carpet premiere of Grotesquerie, in which Travis has a role, and will soon appear on the small screen in two Hallmark movies: Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story and Christmas on Call.
As the mother of two football legends and a grandmother of three, Donna is enjoying the whirlwind ride, all while staying true to the values that have shaped her and her family.
