Dolly Parton Makes $1M Donation To Hurricane Relief

Dolly Parton speaks onstage during Kicking Off CMA Fest: A Special Conversation With Dolly Parton Hosted By Rachel Smith at Music City Center on June 06, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

With her beloved Appalachians devastated by Hurricane Helene, Dolly Parton made a $1 million pledge to relief efforts.

Parton, a native of Sevierville, Tennessee, announced the seven-figure donation to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated providing assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims, at an East Tennessee Walmart Oct. 4.

The Dollywood Foundation and Parton’s business ventures — Dollywood Parks & Resorts, Dolly Parton’s Stampede and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show — pledged to combine their efforts to match Parton’s personal donation, as well.

“I just want you to know that I am totally with you because I am part of you. I love you,” Parton said at the event. “I look around and I think, these are my mountains, these are my valleys, these are my rivers flowing like a stream. These are my people. These mountain-colored rainbows, these are my people, and this is my home.”

Parton was joined by Walmart’s U.S. President and CEO John Furner, who announced the company is upping their original commitment of a $6 million donation to $10 million.

Hurricane Helene killed more than 200 people with damage estimates now surpassing $30 billion.