Taylor Swift’s Gibson Among Items In Upcoming ACM Lifting Lives Auction

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Taylor Swift’s live debut performance of “betty” on her black Gibson acoustic at the 2020 ACM Awards. Photo: Getty Images | Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

Taylor Swift‘s black 2018 Gibson acoustic guitar played during her live, world premiere debut of her folklore single “betty” at the 2020 ACM Awards show, a Swarovski-crystal bedazzled four-string dulcimer owned by Dolly Parton for 30 years, and more will be auctioned off during an online auction titled “NASHVILLE: An Auction to Benefit ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund,” open for bidding October 15-29 on christies.com/Nashville.

The sale of the black 2018 Gibson acoustic guitar personally inscribed and dated by Swift, estimated at $25,000-40,000, also includes the original hard-shell case, embroidered Levy guitar strap and plectrum caddy containing five personalized custom guitar picks.

Other auction highlights include Sheryl Crow’s vintage Baldoni accordion made circa 1940 in Castelfidardo, Italy; Keith Urban’s Hi-9 semi-solid body electric guitar played in Urban’s 2018 “Coming Home” video and on the 2018 ACM Awards Show; Bradley Cooper’s semi-hollow body electric Gibson guitar used by Cooper alongside Lady Gaga throughout rehearsals and filming of the 2019 blockbuster A Star is Born; and Dwight Yoakam’s first purchased Epiphone Casino guitar with hard shell case from his 2005 16th studio album Blame the Vain video and cover shoot. The auction also offers signed guitars from Vince Gill, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney and more.

In addition to instruments, the sale features Tim McGraw’s F131 Hellcat Motorcycle, 2007 by Curtiss Motors, which was a gift from long-time friend NFL quarterback and Hall of Famer Brett Favre. Also for sale is “HAGGARD” a 2019 work by Visual Artist and songwriter Bernie Taupin, saluting the lyrics of Merle Haggard from his 1970 epic “The Fighting Side of Me.” The stellar lineup of items also includes a circa 1930 acoustic guitar from Little Big Town; ephemera from documentary documentarian and filmmaker of Country Music Ken Burns and Marty Stuart, along with performance wear worn by Reba McEntire, Billy Bob Thornton, Carrie Underwood and Trisha Yearwood, and custom and stage-worn cowboy boots from Miranda Lambert and Clint Black.

“Seeing my country music community suffer due to the pandemic has broken my heart,” said Dolly Parton. “It was important to donate the dulcimer that was designed for my 50th Opry Anniversary so we can raise awareness and much needed funds to keep these folks on their feet before we can open the doors to our stages once again.”

“We are immensely grateful to the artists in the Nashville community and beyond who have generously donated items for this auction in collaboration with Christie’s,” said Lyndsay Cruz, Executive Director, ACM Lifting Lives. “Every winning bid will go towards our COVID-19 Response Fund to support the workers of our country music community: the tour bus drivers, aspiring musicians, techs and venue workers—so many of whom have lost their livelihoods overnight during the course of this pandemic. So far, the fund has distributed $1.5 million and we are hoping the sale of these iconic items will enable us to support more affected by this crisis.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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