Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, other stars support US hurricane relief

LOS ANGELES – Top country stars joined the line-up for a star-studded benefit concert, and Taylor Swift donated to hunger relief efforts, as celebrities mobilised on Oct 9 to help people affected by the recent Hurricane Helene and incoming Hurricane Milton.

Pop superstar Swift gave US$5 million (S$6.5 million) to the non-profit group Feeding America to assist in the storms' aftermath, according to a social media post from the group.

“Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and helping communities in need,” Feeding America’s chief executive Claire Babineaux-Fontenot said in a statement.

Much of the southern US experienced the deadly force of Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago, while Milton began battering Florida on Oct 9. Both storms are expected to cause billions of dollars in damage.

Swift is expected to bring her record-breaking The Eras Tour to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, for three consecutive nights from Oct 18 to 20. Her shows are still scheduled to proceed and unlikely to be impacted by the storm.

Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Eric Church and other country musicians set a Concert For Carolina benefit for Oct 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 Oct 9. He had earlier donated US$500,000 to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief.

Veteran country superstar Dolly Parton donated US$1 million of her personal funds to a Tennessee non-profit. Her businesses, including the Dollywood theme park, added another US$1 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." REUTERS