“She’s a star,” Travis tells PEOPLE of his mom Donna
Donna Kelce is about to make her movie debut!
The NFL mom is no stranger TV cameras, as they’re often pointed her way when she’s cheering for son Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs games, but now, the roles are reversed as Donna steps into the spotlight in a whole different way.
This time, the star tight end is cheering his mom on as she set to act in Hallmark Channel’s upcoming Kansas City-set Christmas movie, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, in support of his team. She’ll appear alongside Tyler Hynes and Hunter King in the film.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Travis recalled his reaction to learning his mom was cast in the football-centered Christmas movie and what he texted her when he found out.
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“I was so excited when I heard that she had a role in the Chiefs Hallmark movie,” Travis told PEOPLE exclusively ahead of its premiere on Nov. 30 as part of Countdown to Christmas. “I’m excited to see it. My mom’s going to be a movie star!”
The three-time Super Bowl champ said he and Donna were recently “joking about it” when reflecting on the unimaginable trajectory her life and career has taken. They exchanged a few messages when reminiscing in disbelief.
“I shot her a text saying, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re a movie star now! Did you ever think growing up in East side of Cleveland that you were going to end up being in the movies one day?’ ” Travis recalled of their texts.
“It’s fun to kind of have those conversations,” he added.
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While sharing love and support to his mom was a no brainer as she heads into the exciting next chapter as an actress, Travis — who recently made his acting debut, appearing in Ryan Murphy‘s Grotesquerie alongside Niecy Nash-Betts — wasn’t super quick to hand out advice.
“We really didn’t talk about it,” the football player said of exchanging acting tips and tricks with Donna. “I don’t think I’m far enough in my acting career to be out giving advice.”
Regardless, Travis has full confidence in his mom’s acting chops! “She’s a star though, so she knows what to do,” he said proudly.
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As for Travis’ latest on-screen endeavors, Grotesquerie isn’t the only credit he’s adding to his list. The athlete who doubles as an actor is stepping into his newest role as host of Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, premiering on Oct. 16 on Prime Video.
The upcoming series is a spin off the Jeff Foxworthy-led game show Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
“I always thought that was a really fun show,” Travis told PEOPLE when explaining why he committed to the hosting gig.
In contrast to Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, the Prime Video series will see contestants rely on the help of celebrities instead of competing against students, as they did in the original show. “I had a chance to maybe revamp it a little bit and kind of make it my own,” Travis said.
He added, “I was really excited about it.”
