Tennessee native Dolly Parton has announced a generous $1 million contribution to assist victims of Hurricane Helene. Speaking to community members in a Newport, Tennessee, Walmart parking lot, Parton expressed her deep connection to the affected areas. “These are my mountains … these are my rivers,” she remarked.
Parton described the impact of the hurricane, stating, “Helene was devastating. Not just because it was my family, but because all these people feel like my people. We all feel related, and we are in some sort of way. So it just devastated me to know that we had suffering like that. So anything we can do to help.”
In conjunction with her donation, Parton’s businesses—Dollywood Parks & Resorts, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show—as well as The Dollywood Foundation, plan to match her contribution for a total of $2 million in aid.
“You just try to step up. God has been good to me and so has the public. And I feel like anything I can do to give back and do what I can, I’m always willing to do that,” Parton said to the applause of the gathered crowd.
Additionally, Walmart announced a significant $10 million donation to support relief efforts.
Parton reassured those affected, saying, “We are with you, we love you, we hope that things get better real soon, and we’re gonna do our part.”
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left visible debris in areas like Asheville, North Carolina. Donations for recovery efforts can be made through organizations such as the Red Cross, which provides essential assistance to those in need.