Heartbroken by the devastating wildfires that swept through Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains in 2016, Tennessee-born country star Dolly Parton stepped up to support families severely affected by the disaster.
Known for her philanthropic work, the “9 to 5” hitmaker was among the prominent celebrities who extended a helping hand through her Dollywood Foundation.
In late November 2016, reports indicated that a series of powerful wildfires swept through parts of the Great Smoky Mountains region.
Among the communities severely affected were those near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Extremely strong winds fueled the fires’ rapid spread across the surrounding region, destroying several homes and businesses.
The devastating wildfires claimed 14 lives and injured nearly 200 individuals while forcing an estimated 14,000 residents and tourists to evacuate.
Moreover, the Chimney Tops 2 Fire, one of the major fires involved in the disaster, burned more than 10,000 acres and led to the closure of the popular Chimney Tops Trail.
A DigitalGlobe via Getty Images closeup image captured by an infrared sensor aboard the WorldView-3 satellite shows destroyed apartment buildings and homes in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.DigitalGlobe via Getty Images via Getty Images
The combination of drought conditions and hurricane-force winds created a fast-moving firestorm that overran entire neighborhoods in minutes.
Driven by her love for Tennessee, the award-winning singer and actress led relief efforts through her business, Dollywood, where she served as co-owner, and the Dollywood Foundation, which established a relief fund known as the My People Fund.
The generous initiative provided eligible families whose primary residences were lost or destroyed in the wildfires with $1,000 per month for five months.
Thanks to an outpouring of donations, the My People Fund increased its final payment to $5,000 per family in May 2017, bringing the total assistance to $10,000 for nearly 900 families.
The Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon raised more than $9 million for wildfire relief, helping the fund support families as they began rebuilding their lives.
Dolly Parton performs on The Pyramid Stage on Day 3 of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm on June 29, 2014 in Glastonbury, England.Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage
“I’ve always believed charity begins at home, and my home is someplace special,” she said as cited by ABC News. “We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people, and this assistance will help get them back on their feet.”
The aftermath of the incident left Parton deeply saddened, prompting her to express sympathy for everyone affected.
“I have been watching the terrible fires in the Great Smoky Mountains, and I am heartbroken,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee added via BBC. “I am praying for all the families affected by the fire – and the firefighters who are working so hard to keep everyone safe.”
Before Dolly Parton’s death in Aug. 25, 2026, at the age of 80, the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee had donated millions of dollars to charitable causes, with one of her most significant contributions being a $4.5 million gift from her foundation to the Nashville Public Library.
The donation, described as her largest single institutional gift, helped launch a new early literacy program.
Related: ’70s Rock Icon Shares Emotional Message After Dolly Parton’s Death: ‘We Will Miss Her’
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