National

Dolly Parton to host charity telethon for Tennessee fire victims

HOLLYWOOD - OCTOBER 26: Singer Reba McEntire (L) and Dolly Parton perform at the Country Music Television's CMT Giants honoring Reba McEntire at the Kodak Theatre on October 26, 2006 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Dolly Parton is set to host a telethon to raise money for those affected by the Tennessee fires.

The 70-year-old country legend has been busy raising money for the families whose houses were burnt down during the wildfires that ravaged the Great Smoky Mountains last week through her charity fund My People - which was set up as part of her Dollywood Foundation - and now the '9 to 5' hitmaker is planning on hosting a three-hour telethon in order to encourage further donations.

Whilst many of the details have not been thought out yet, it has been reported that the telethon will take place in Nashville on December 13, and all proceeds will go to the My People fund.

Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Alison Krauss and others are going to perform at the planned benefit called "Smoky Mountains Rise," ABC News confirmed.

Dollywood director of communications Pete Owens said in a statement: "It's really a work in progress."

RELATED STORIES:

"We've made the announcement, so we're working through the logistics now and determining the partners that are going to work on it."

The news comes as the My People fund has managed to raise $1 million since it launched on Wednesday, with the goal to provide $1000 a month to families affected by the devastating blaze.

Dolly - whose Dollywood Theme Park had to be evacuated after the blazes ripped through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge early last week - said: "As you may know by now, there have been terrible wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains, the same mountains where I grew up and where my people call home.

"I have always believed that charity begins at home. That's why I've asked my Dollywood Companies - Including the Dollywood Theme Park, and DreamMore Resort; My dinner theatre attractions including Dixie Stampede and Lumberjack Adventure; and my Dollywood Foundation to help me establish the My People Fund."

The Dollywood Foundation website still accepting donations to the cause on the foundation's website.

The site reads: "We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. To aid in their recovery effort, the Dollywood Foundation will provide $1,000 a month to all of those families who lost their homes in the fires for six months so that they can get back on their feet."

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this article. 

Cox Media Group

Most Read