Lorde Finally Met The Baseball Player Who Inspired "Royals"

    Life is great without a care.

    Naomi Zeichner
    by Naomi Zeichner

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Lorde’s colossal hit “Royals” got its name from this 1976 photo of Hall of Fame baseball player George Brett, who spent his entire career playing for the Kansas City Royals.

    Ted Spiegel / National Geographic / Getty Images / Via newswatch.nationalgeographic.com

    Last year, Lorde told VH1 that she “had this image from the National Geographic of this dude just signing baseballs. He was a baseball player and his shirt said, ‘Royals.’ It was just that word. It’s really cool."

    Lorde’s mom confirmed with a Kansas City newspaper that Lorde was referring to a photo of George Brett; a rep for National Geographic told the same paper that the George Brett image was the "only photo in our archives of a Royals baseball player signing autographs.”

    Later, National Geographic caught up with Ted Spiegel, the guy who took the photo. He hadn't heard "Royals."

    When Lorde played in Kansas City in March, Brett was invited, but couldn't manage to clear his schedule. He sent over a Royals jersey, signed, "Lorde, you are Royal to me,' instead.

    Kansas City Royals @Royals

    .@lordemusic said the #Royals jersey she received from @GeorgeHBrett was one of the coolest things she owns!

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    But last night, the two finally converged in Vegas.

    MLB @MLB

    And now you're Royal. @lordemusic meets @Royals icon George Brett.

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    Wonder if Brett pooped his pants over it.

    Republic / Via giphy.com