Donna Kelce Says She "Stood Still" in Marriage to Ed: "We Stayed Together for the Kids"
But they were friendly.


Donna Kelce has made a vulnerable admission about her marriage to Ed Kelce, with whom she shares athlete sons Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce.
In a conversation as part of the Glamour Women of the Year awards with fellow famous moms Tina Knowles, Mandy Teefey and Maggie Baird, the women discussed the line in the Barbie movie that goes, "We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they’ve come."
Baird, who is mom to Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, said she agreed to an extent but that it was a "balance," and that she believes moms should also be breaking their own barriers.
"I agree. I think it is a mix of both," Donna chimed in. "I was a commercial banker for a bank in several different states. I wanted to get ahead. I worked really, really hard. I was a major breadwinner in the family. And I think it’s important for kids to see that a woman can do whatever she wants, but I did stand still too."
A post shared by Samantha Barry (@sambarry)
A photo posted by on
The mom of two then went on to explain a major way that she had to "stand still" when she was younger. "My husband and I knew that our marriage was not working, but we stayed together for the kids," she said. "Ours was a very friendly relationship. So, we could do that and make sure that their life was normal as possible. But in that one respect, I did stand still for several years until I could move on on my own."
Donna was married to Ed for 25 years starting in the late 1970s, with Jason being born in 1987 and Travis in 1989 (like a certain Taylor Swift, if you recall). They divorced after both their children had graduated from college.
In the 2023 documentary Kelce, Donna and Ed had previously admitted that they "stayed together for the kids," as reported by Us Weekly.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
These days, the ex-spouses continue to be friendly and to come together to support their high-achieving sons.

Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
I Tried Kate Middleton's Surprisingly Simple Morning Routine
My results were hit or miss—but the princess is on to something with one step.
By Kristin Contino
-
Meghan Shares Photos of Archie and Lilibet's Vibrant Red Hair
The little royals most definitely take after dad Prince Harry.
By Amy Mackelden
-
Former Royal Nanny Opens Up About George, Charlotte, and Louis
"You see how grounded they really are."
By Amy Mackelden
-
Travis Kelce Emerges in Las Vegas Without Taylor Swift for a Night Out With a Pop Star
The "Blank Space" singer was nowhere to be seen.
By Amy Mackelden
-
Joe Jonas Responded to a Fan Who Quoted Taylor Swift Lyrics at Him
Mr. Perfectly Fine has responded to "Mr. Perfectly Fine".
By Lia Beck
-
Taylor Swift Is Reportedly Being Subpoenaed in Relation to Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Legal Dispute
She's supposedly the "megacelebrity friend" in Baldoni's lawsuit.
By Lia Beck
-
Why Gracie Abrams Feels "Lucky" to Have Witnessed Taylor Swift Dealing with Fame
Abrams opened for Swift during the Eras Tour.
By Lia Beck
-
Serena Williams Avoided Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl for One Important Reason
Sorry, Olympia. You'll have to get that autograph next time.
By Lia Beck
-
Travis Kelce's Mom Reportedly "Liked" a Comment About His Future as a Dad
...and then removed it.
By Lia Beck
-
Taylor Swift Fans Just Spotted a Major Clue That She's Working on a New Album
It was hidden in *checks notes* an interview with a Swedish DJ.
By Lia Beck
-
Ed Sheeran Shares What It's Really Like When He and Taylor Swift Hang Out
Their relationship has shifted over time.
By Lia Beck