Taylor Swift makes $5m hurricane relief donation

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has donated $5 million (AED 18.3 million) to charity following the devastation in the United States caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

Swift made the donation to the nonprofit group Feeding America to assist in the storms' aftermath, according to a social media post from the group.

Other top country stars joined the lineup for a star-studded benefit concert, and Swift donated to hunger relief efforts, as celebrities mobilised to help people affected by recent hurricanes. 

"Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and helping communities in need," Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said in a statement.

Thank you, @taylorswift13, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and helping communities in need in the wake of #HurricaneHelene and #HurricaneMilton.

🧡 Join Taylor if you're able by donating here: https://t.co/rSpfqPuHCv pic.twitter.com/NYJIIG3dlS

— Feeding America (@FeedingAmerica) October 9, 2024

Much of the southern US experienced the deadly force of Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago. Milton began battering Florida on Wednesday. Both storms are expected to cause billions of dollars in damage.

Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Eric Church and other country musicians set a "Concert for Carolina" benefit for October 26 to help one of the regions worst hit by Helene. The event will take place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Among other efforts, country singer Morgan Wallen helped collect supplies and posed for photos with fans at a food drive in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday. He had earlier donated $500,000 (AED 1.8 million) to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief.

Country superstar Dolly Parton donated $1 million (AED 3.67 million) of her personal funds to a Tennessee nonprofit. Her businesses, including the Dollywood theme park, added another $1 million (AED 3.67 million)

"These are my people and this is my home," Parton told a crowd in Newport, Tennessee. "I am with you because I am part of you."