Taylor Swift BUSKS in Central Park — Makes $50,000 for Street Performer Fund Marcus Johnson had been playing blues guitar near Bethesda Fountain for years, largely unnoticed by passersby. When a young woman in sunglasses and a baseball cap asked to play along, he had no idea she was Taylor Swift.

The late afternoon sun slanted across Central Park, casting golden light on the water at Bethesda Fountain.

The familiar hum of New York filled the air — joggers pounding pavement, kids laughing, vendors shouting, tourists fumbling with maps.

And through it all, Marcus Johnson’s guitar sang the blues.

He had played there for years, his battered case open at his feet, a scattering of dollar bills and coins inside. Most passersby offered only a glance before rushing off. Sometimes a tourist lingered for a song, sometimes a child tugged a parent closer. But mostly, Marcus played for himself — because the music was the one thing in his life that had never let him down.

That’s why he didn’t notice at first when a young woman in a baseball cap, hoodie, and sunglasses slowed her steps and stopped a few feet away.

Mind if I join you?” she asked.

Marcus looked up, surprised. She was slender, with a guitar case slung across her shoulder. Her voice was polite but carried a playful spark.

He chuckled. “Depends. You any good?”

The woman grinned. “I know a few chords.”

She sat cross-legged beside him, opening the case. Inside was a gleaming acoustic guitar that looked far too new for a casual strummer. She tuned it quickly, her hands deft and practiced. Marcus raised an eyebrow.

“Okay,” he said slowly. “What you wanna play?”

She leaned in. “How about something everyone knows?