In October 2024, a Facebook page claimed Taylor Swift declined to perform alongside Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Jelly Roll in a benefit concert for hurricane victims.
The rumor referred to the recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, that devastated the U.S. Southeast through late September and early October 2024.
A post making the claim, by the Facebook page America's Last Line of Defense (ALLOD), had amassed more than 8,000 shares and 6,000 reactions as of this writing. It read: "Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, and Jelly Roll will play a benefit concert for Hurricane victims - Taylor Swift said 'no.'"
(Facebook user "America's Last Line Of Defense")
Many users in the comments appeared to believe the post to be real. One person wrote: "Wow! Can't believe she said no! Wouldn't wanna be her for nothing in this world! Praying for God to touch these rich people north of Richmond! Thanks to all the ones who care!"
However, the claim was not true. It originated from a page that is satirical in nature. ALLOD's Facebook Intro stated: "The flagship of the ALLOD network of trollery. Nothing on this page is real." It also labeled itself as a "Satire/parody" page.
ALLOD shared an accompanying article in the comments section, which showed the post came from satirical website The Dunning-Kruger Times. The article itself acknowledged the story was fabricated:
In what may be the dumbest storyline we've ever come up with, Taylor Swift has refused to join Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, and Jelly Roll for a benefit show for hurricane victims.
"The idea started when Craven Moorehead came up with a story about Kid Rock heading to North Carolina with supplies but Tay Tay was nowhere to be found," said ALLOD Lead Journalisticator Flagg Eagleton – Patriot, "It reminded me of that time my dad had a manic episode and thought he'd get famous for bringing saline solution to Ground Zero, so I went with it." [...]
It's true, patriots. ALLOD has financial troubles so we typically pay our writers in cantaloupes and watermelons, but with Kamala Harris' grocery prices at an all-time high and growing by the minute, we had to switch gears. While Big Macs are expensive, they're much more affordable if you use the app, and you can typically squeak out some 20-piece nuggets for the kids.
What does any of this have to do with a benefit concert for hurricane victims? There's no way to tell for sure, sadly, but we'll keep you posted as this developing story…develops.
There was no evidence Swift declined to perform in such a concert, nor any proof the other singers had combined for such a show in the first place.
According to food bank network Feeding America, Swift donated $5 million to the charity's hurricane relief efforts. Likewise, Aldean reportedly made a $500,000 donation to Samaritan's Purse, a North Carolina-based organization. Kid Rock also shared a "Trump authorized" GoFundMe on his social media, which raised almost $7 million for hurricane victims.
Snopes has addressed similar satirical claims about Swift, Kid Rock and others in the past. One story falsely claimed Walmart canceled Swift's clothing line, and in another, people falsely claimed Kid Rock canceled concerts with Tim McGraw citing the other singer's "wokeness."
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.