WORKIN’ ‘9 TO 5’ TO HELP

Dolly Parton Contributes $2 Million to Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

“I really think that this is a time for me to step up again. For all of us to step up and do what we can,” the country singer and East Tennessee native said.

East Tennessee native and country singing star Dolly Parton just contributed a total of $2 million to Hurricane Helene relief efforts—half of that out her personal wealth and the other half from several of her businesses in the region, which was hit especially hard by the storm. Parton announced the major donation at an event on Friday. “We wish that we were all together for another reason, but we all have seen the devastation. … I look around and I think ‘These are my mountains, these are my valleys,’” Parton said. “I really think that this is a time for me to step up again. For all of us to step up and do what we can.” During the event, Walmart CEO John Furner also announced that he would donate $10 million to hurricane relief efforts. Parton, who is known for her philanthropic work, also raised and donated money when the region was racked with wildfires in 2016. At least 11 people died in Tennessee as a result of Helene.