Willie Nelson photo courtesy of Lost Highway Records.

There are plenty of ways to meet the Christmas gift wishes of country music fans in 2010: new Christmas albums from Sugarland, Richie McDonald and John Cowan; concert tickets for one of the coming year’s summer festivals; or maybe a Keith Urban fundraising calendar.

But if you want to go the extra mile — and you’ve got bucks to spend — you might want to consider something that’s been signed, or previously owned, by a country star. Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Johnny Cash are among numerous artists represented at auction this month, with the proceeds in most instances going to a worthy charity.

Some are online, some require you to show up in person, and the most expensive one is already completed. But here are some reasons to do a friend’s “bidding” for Christmas:

• The Country Angel’s Network is the most affordable auction. Tuesday’s listings included a bottle of wine signed by Miranda Lambert, an autographed Martina McBride photo and a tank top Danielle Peck wore during a concert appearance. All of the items were gettable for less than $60 with the money earmarked for the Hope Outreach Center, which aids a distressed area in Douglas, Ga. Bids can be placed at www.countryangelsnetwork.org.
• A guitar signed by Taylor Swift is being auctioned by the YMCA in Hendersonville, Tenn., the Nashville suburb where many of her songs were inspired. According to WSMV-TV, bidding closes Dec. 12.
• Beth Nielsen Chapman — author of Faith Hill’s “This Kiss” and Trisha Yearwood’s “You Say You Will” — has initiated a very unique auction to benefit PeaceJam, an organization that brings kids into contact with some of the world’s most important contemporary peacemakers. Taylor Guitars donated five custom guitars, hand painted by Nashville artists, including “Where’ve You Been” songwriter Don Henry. Each of the instruments is signed by 10 — that’s right, 10! — Nobel Peace Laureates, including the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The auction is open until Dec. 17 at http://www.ebay.com/peacejam.
• A number of artists have contributed hand-written lyrics to some of their biggest songs for the Americana Music Association’s auction, which closes Monday with an event at Nashville’s Tinney Contemporary Gallery. Willie Nelson submitted “On The Road Again,” Dolly Parton turned in “I Will Always Love You,” and Robert Plant wrote out the words to his Alison Krauss duet “Please Read The Letter.” At least three dozen acts are expected to donate lyrics, including Emmylou Harris, Jack Ingram, Elvis Costello and Rodney Crowell. To get in on it, visit www.americanamusicauction.com.
• The Christie’s auction house in New York realized more than $875,000 last week with an auction of items that once belonged to some of country’s biggest stars. A Gibson guitar owned by Roy Rogers went for $43,750; the headstock of a Bill Monroe mandolin fetched $37,500; a letter hand-written by Johnny Cash brought $4,375; and a Martin guitar that belonged to Hank Williams netted $134,500.

Need other ideas? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide!

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