Taylor Swift has pledged $5 million (£3.8 million) to aid those impacted by Hurricane Milton, which struck the Florida coast on Wednesday. The pop superstar, recognized as the world’s richest female musician with a net worth of $1.6 billion (£1.2 billion), directed her donation to the non-profit organization Feeding America as part of a broader effort by celebrities to assist communities affected by both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
Feeding America’s CEO, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, expressed gratitude on the organization’s X account, stating, “Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and helping communities in need.”
Hurricane Milton threatens extensive damage across Florida, particularly in areas recently affected by Hurricane Helene. Swift, 34, is scheduled to perform in Miami next week as she embarks on the final leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour. Known for her charitable contributions, Swift previously donated to 1,400 Trussell food banks in cities like Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, and London, coinciding with her summer performances.
Recently, she also donated $100,000 (£79,400) to support the family of a victim of a mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebrations, where she attended to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
In addition to Swift’s efforts, country artists Keith Urban, Luke Combs, and Eric Church have announced a benefit concert, “Concert for Carolina,” set to take place later this month in Charlotte, North Carolina, for those affected by the two storms. Country star Morgan Wallen has also contributed by collecting supplies and posing for photos with fans at a food drive in Knoxville, Tennessee, after donating $500,000 (£382,000) to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief.
Additionally, Dolly Parton has donated $1 million (£764,000) from her personal funds to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a Tennessee non-profit assisting Hurricane Helene flood victims, with her businesses matching that amount.
Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, generating fierce winds exceeding 100 mph (160 kph) and triggering tornadoes across the state. The National Hurricane Center recorded maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph) as it struck near Siesta Key around 8:30 PM local time. More than two million households lost power, according to the PowerOutages website, as forecasts warned of a potentially deadly storm surge and heavy rainfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Tragically, two fatalities were reported in St. Lucie County on Florida’s Atlantic coast, where tornadoes had touched down.