Brands need attention. It's an attention economy — and one proven way to cut through? Celebs.
Some brands need a boost. Some buzzy brands are ripe for a partnership to take them to the next level. We wanted to know: Who should pair with who? What's working? What's next?
So we did an analysis. Google Trends, entertainment buzz, stock signals, news sentiment, AI-assisted research. Real data. Human curation. Good taste. Updated Dec 2025.
These brands got it right. Here's what smart celeb partnerships actually look like — and the results to prove it.
4.3B impressions, $65M earned media value, 12% revenue boost
"Cowboy Carter" gave us the track "Levii's Jeans," then the "Reiimagine" campaign. Authentic cultural moment — she actually loves denim.
Viral TikTok sensation
K-pop girl group dancing to "Milkshake" in the "Better in Denim" campaign. CMO said it "put us into another universe of being relevant." Contemporary group + nostalgic anthem = Gen Z reappraisal.
First Super Bowl ad in 27 years
"So Win" featured Clark, A'ja Wilson, and Sha'Carri Richardson, voiced by Doechii. Invested in the female consumer at exactly the right moment.
"Who Knew?" campaign
Turned an unexpected celebrity choice into self-aware humor about brand perception. Now expanded to "WhoKnewVille" for the holidays. Pop culture savvy pays off.
These brands need a boost. Here's who we'd call.
These brands are hot. They just need the right face.
Why buzzy: $1.85B valuation, category creator in prebiotic soda, profitable
Why them: Highest-paid female athlete ($31M), 17+ sponsors — but NO functional beverage deal. Gap in the market.
Why buzzy: $1B revenue expected, FSA/HSA eligible, leading the wellness tech wave
Why them: Most decorated gymnast ever, Athleta partner — but NO wellness wearable. Perfect fit.
Why buzzy: $5.5B valuation, California coastal vibe, has athletes (Goff, Draper, Livvy Dunne)
Why them: Missing lifestyle crossover. Clooney brings sophistication + mainstream appeal.
Why buzzy: NA beer category leader, 66% of all NA craft growth, David Chang partnership
Why them: Olympic gold, NWSL Championship MVP — no beverage deal. Plus: she's from Cincinnati!
Why buzzy: Punk/metal aesthetic, Tony Hawk and Steve-O investors, edgy marketing kings
Why them: Sinners gives him a darker edge that bridges to their vibe. Not your typical polished celebrity.
Healthy brands with money should snatch these up. Google, Uber, McDonald's — we rated you as top performers in our Brand Check-In tracker. You've got the budget and the brand equity. Now go get these:
You're welcome for the ideas.
PS we're in Cincinnati and love our local talent.
Proud of our people. (tap to jump)
A Cincinnati partnership we'd love to see:
Kroger × Regina King. Cincinnati HQ meets Cincinnati-born Oscar winner. Make it happen.
If you're a brand today, you have to fight for attention. This is why celeb partnerships are so successful and growing — they cut through the noise and boost brand buzz. We're watching how this trend continues, along with related trends. Read more about my thoughts on these trends →
QVC energy meets TikTok. Massive in Asia (66% of global revenue, China at $675B). US is only 5% of e-commerce vs China's 60%. TikTok Shop hit $1B/month by late 2024. When does it go mainstream here?
$32.55 billion industry in 2025, up from $1.4 billion in 2014. Creator economy isn't slowing down. Our prediction: the future is product placement IN influencer content — like movies.
$4B valuation, nearly $900M revenue. Kim knows what she's doing: 'Merry Kimsmas' holiday campaigns are a huge success (Snoop Dogg, Mahomes, Hawn-Hudson this year), limited drops, NBA partnership. 70% of customers under 40. This is the playbook.
Google Trends, entertainment buzz, stock signals, news sentiment, Brand Check-In tracker, AI-assisted research. Real data, human curation.
Sources: Influencer Marketing Hub, Campaign Asia, Grand View Research, Sacra, Luxury Tribune, PR Newswire, industry trade publications, public financial filings, entertainment news. These pairings reflect cultural alignment and narrative fit based on public signals. They are interpretive, not predictive, and do not imply endorsement performance or campaign effectiveness. Signals are reviewed holistically using a qualitative framework, not an automated scoring model.
Disclaimer: This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. We're not financial advisors, brand consultants, or celebrity agents (yet). These are our opinions based on publicly available data. We have no insider knowledge and no affiliation with any brands or celebrities mentioned. If you're a brand and you steal one of these ideas — you're welcome, and also maybe hire us.
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