Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountains Rise telethon on Dec. 13 has already raised nearly $9 million, and the total amount is expected to rise as mail donations are counted and the telethon is rebroadcast to new audiences over the next five days.
More than 1300 families have been displaced due to the wildfires that spread across Dolly’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee, in late November. Dolly established the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund to provide $1,000 each month for six months to every family who lost their primary residence.
In addition to huge donations from Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Paul Simon and Dierks Bentley, the star-studded telethon featured performances from Dolly, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams Jr., Chris Stapleton, Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss, Michael W. Smith, Chris Janson, Big & Rich, LOCASH, Chris Young, Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Cyndi Lauper, Don McLean, Amy Grant, Alabama, Aaron Lewis and Rhonda Vincent.
“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who have donated from all over the country and to my friends who donated their time, their talent and money for My People,” said Dolly. “The response has been so overwhelming that we haven’t been able to count all of the donations yet. Right now, in total, we have raised about $9 million dollars for the folks who lost everything in Sevier County.”
Anyone who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the My People Fund may visit dollywoodfoundation.org. For those wishing to send donations via mail, those contributions should be sent to: My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Donations are also being accepted by texting DOLLY to 501501 for a onetime $10 donation or DOLLY25 to 501501 for a onetime $25 donation. Messaging and data rates will apply.
photos by Anna Webber/Webster PR; photo composite created by Jason Simanek for “Smoky Mountains Rise”