Taylor Swift’s Generous Heart: Ellen Pompeo Shares How the Pop Star Wrote ‘The Biggest Check’ for Charity After Just 20 Minutes

Published: April 3, 2025

Ellen Pompeo, the beloved star of Grey’s Anatomy, recently shared a heartwarming story about Taylor Swift’s incredible generosity during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. The actress revealed that the pop icon wrote her “the biggest check without blinking an eye” for a charitable cause close to Pompeo’s heart, despite the two having known each other for “all but 20 minutes.” The story, which has since captured the attention of fans and media alike, highlights Swift’s long-standing reputation for philanthropy and her willingness to support meaningful initiatives on the spot.

The encounter between Pompeo and Swift dates back to 2015, when the Grey’s Anatomy star made a cameo appearance in Swift’s star-studded music video for her hit song “Bad Blood.” The video, which featured a slew of A-list celebrities like Selena Gomez, Zendaya, and Mariska Hargitay, was a cultural moment, and Pompeo’s involvement came about in part because of Swift’s admiration for Grey’s Anatomy. Swift, a known fan of the medical drama, famously named one of her cats Meredith Grey after Pompeo’s character, a fact Pompeo humorously noted she only learned about through Twitter.

During her interview with Jennifer Hudson, Pompeo recounted the ease of filming the “Bad Blood” video, describing it as “the easiest thing” that took just “an hour or two.” She filmed her scene alongside Hargitay, whose Law & Order: SVU character, Olivia Benson, inspired the name of another one of Swift’s cats. But what stood out most to Pompeo wasn’t the glitz of the music video set—it was Swift’s immediate and generous response to a charitable request.

At the time, Pompeo and her husband, Chris Ivery, were deeply involved in volunteering for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a cause they’ve long supported. The hospital runs a remarkable program that uses music to support babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The initiative records parents singing nursery rhymes or telling stories, which are then played for the babies when the parents can’t be present due to work or other commitments. According to Pompeo, the program has a profound impact, with research showing that the babies respond positively to the recordings, leading to better health outcomes.

“It’s a really nice program, but they need money to run it,” Pompeo explained on The Jennifer Hudson Show. Seizing the opportunity while on the “Bad Blood” set, she mustered the courage to ask Swift for a donation. “I just got up the hutzpah and asked Taylor, ‘Could you write me a big old check for Children’s?’” Pompeo recalled. To her astonishment, Swift didn’t hesitate. “She knew me all but 20 minutes and that girl wrote me the biggest check without blinking an eye,” Pompeo said, her voice filled with gratitude and admiration.

While Pompeo didn’t disclose the exact amount of the donation, her description of it as “the biggest check” underscores the significant impact it likely had on the hospital’s program. The story, which was first shared on the April 2, 2025, episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show and later amplified by a Variety post on X, has resonated with fans of both stars, who have taken to social media to praise Swift’s generosity and Pompeo’s advocacy for the cause.

This isn’t the first time Taylor Swift has been recognized for her philanthropy. The 14-time Grammy winner, who crossed into billionaire territory in 2023 thanks to her record-breaking Eras Tour, has a well-documented history of giving back. In 2024 alone, Swift made multiple food bank donations during the U.K. leg of her Eras Tour and contributed to several organizations supporting those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. According to a timeline of her charitable efforts published by Billboard, Swift’s generosity spans years, from disaster relief to education initiatives, often without seeking public recognition.

For Pompeo, the experience with Swift was a testament to the singer’s character. “Taylor is such a good girl,” she told Hudson, reflecting on how effortless it was to work with her on the music video and how meaningful her contribution was to the hospital. The actress, who has been making press rounds to promote her new Hulu drama Good American Family, used the platform to shine a light on the NICU music program, emphasizing its importance for families and the babies who benefit from it.

The story of Swift’s donation also highlights the unique connection between the two women, forged through their shared history with Grey’s Anatomy and the “Bad Blood” video. While Pompeo clarified in a past interview with Jimmy Kimmel that she doesn’t consider herself part of Swift’s famous “squad,” there’s clearly no bad blood between them—only mutual respect and a shared commitment to making a difference.