Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey donate items to MusiCares auction
The signed ‘Tortured Poets Department’ acoustic guitar Taylor Swift donated already has a $8, 000 (R131,000) bid.
Some of the music industry’s biggest superstars are joining forces to donate to a good cause.
Taylor Swift and Mariah Carey are among the musicians who have donated items to MusiCares Charity Relief Auction.
MusiCares is a nonprofit organisation founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 to provide “a safety net for critical assistance for music people in times of need”.
The NPO offers mental health resources, drug addiction support and financial assistance.
The academy, best known for its annual Grammy Awards ceremony, teams up with A-list artists each year to raise funds.
A fundraising gala will take place in Los Angeles later this month.
Carey, who has been named the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year, will be honoured at the gala.
"I’m so honoured to be named the 2026 @musicares Person of the Year. Grateful to be celebrated through this special #GRAMMY Week event, raising vital funds to support the music community year-round," the singer said in October last year.
The ‘We Belong Together’ hitmaker has donated a handful of items for the MusiCares Charity Relief Auction, including a gold-tone jet ski used during her ‘Number 1 to Infinity’ Las Vegas Residency.
A pink 1961 Ford Thunderbird car is also up for grabs.
Chappell Roan has donated a signed electric guitar and a signed copy of her debut album, ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.”
Roan is a nominee at the 2026 Grammys taking place on Sunday, February 1. Her hit single, ‘The Subway’, is up for ‘Record of the Year’ and ‘Best Pop Solo Performance’.
READ: Chappell Roan 'very proud' of new single 'The Subway'
The stage is set for Julien’s Auctions and MusiCares® official 2026 MusiCares Charity Relief Auction, a cornerstone of Grammy® Week celebrating Music’s Biggest Night® – and featuring Person of the Year, Mariah Carey.
— Julien's Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) January 15, 2026
Own a piece of history from the world’s most iconic legends… pic.twitter.com/GWrBmnWsUB
Another nominee, Sabrina Carpenter, is also supporting the auction. She has given a signed electric guitar and signed mugs.
There are also items from Quincy Jones, Rino Starr, Slash, The Eagles, Phil Collins, Boy George, Coldplay, Cher, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, KATSEYE, Billie Eilish, Stray Kids, Alex Warren and Jelly Roll.
There are two items that seem to be at the top of everyone’s list on Julien’s Auctions website –guitars signed by two of America’s most famous pop stars.
Swift has signed an acoustic guitar with a graphic from ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ applied on the top.
It currently has a bid of $8 000 (R131, 000). The second-highest bid on the site.
‘The Fate of Ophelia’ singer is not nominated for any awards at this year’s ceremony as her latest album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’, was released after the eligibility period.
A guitar signed by Robert Smith and Olivia Rodrigo has a bid of $10 000 (R160, 000).
The guitar was used in their performance of Just Like Heaven’ and ‘Friday I’m In Love’ at the 2025 Glastonbury music festival.
“It is signed in silver felt tip pen by both Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith as well as the rest of Olivia’s band, and it also has lyrics taped to the bass side of the body facing the player for easy reference. The signatures, taped lyrics, and “2020” written on the battery cover in silver felt tip pen can all be seen clearly in performance footage and photographs from the performance.”
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Image credit: YouTube/ Taylor Swift