Dolly Parton donates $1M to Hurricane Helene relief efforts

Hurricane Helene, classified as a Category 4 hurricane, devastated the southeastern states of the United States last week, including Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina, leaving behind widespread destruction. At least 225 people have lost their lives due to the catastrophe, and hundreds of thousands of homes remain without electricity. Infrastructure damage and flash floods have also impacted many other cities.

The singer, actress, and philanthropist Dolly Parton donated during a press conference in her hometown of Tennessee: "I wanted to announce that from myself personally, just from my own bank account, I'm donating a million dollars today," she stated. "God has been good to me and so has the public, and I feel that if there's anything I can do to give back in any way I can I'm always willing to do that. I want to feel like I'm doing my part."

The artist behind the hit "Jolene" also noted that Dollywood, the company she oversees, which includes her amusement park of the same name, plans to match this amount. The funds will be directed to the Mountain Ways Foundation, which supports relief efforts and rebuilding in eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and the broader Appalachian region.

"We're starting out with a good little hunk," Dolly Parton added, emphasizing that much more time and resources will be required to return the disaster-affected areas to their former state. "Who knew in our little part of the country here – where I was born and raised right down the road – that we would have this kind of devastation."

Parton reminisced about her hometown of Locust Ridge, Tennessee, and the significant damage caused by Hurricane Helene. " These mountain-coloured rainbows, these are my people, and this is my home…," she expressed emotionally. "I just want you to know that I am totally with you, 'cause I am part of you. I love you."

Dolly also encouraged those affected by the hurricane: "I know it's easy for us to say, 'Oh, things are going to get better' when things are still really bad, when times are tough, but all we can say is that we are with you, that we love you, and that we hope that things get better real soon."

This donation is not Parton's first philanthropic act. In 2016, her Dollywood Foundation committed to paying $1,000 monthly to families affected by wildfires in Sevier County, Tennessee. In 2021, she donated a portion of the ticket proceeds from Dollywood to assist flood victims in Tennessee, and the year before, she contributed $1 million towards developing a COVID-19 vaccine.

Parton is one of the leading icons of country music, but she is also a versatile artist with achievements in acting. Her feature film debut was in "9 to 5", starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Another well-known movie she appeared in is "Steel Magnolias". She has received three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations. She is 78 years old.