Addressing the crowd, Parton explained her personal connection to the region, noting her deep ties to Tennessee. “These are my mountains, these are my valleys. These are my people and this is my home,” she said. The singer has always felt a responsibility to step up during times of crisis, referencing her involvement in past disasters like the Tennessee wildfires.
Parton announced a personal donation of $1 million, while her business ventures, including Dollywood Parks & Resorts and the Dollywood Foundation, will contribute an additional $1 million to support the Mountain Ways Foundation nonprofit. She emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to raise more funds, given the scale of devastation.
This philanthropic gesture adds to Parton’s long history of giving back. In recent years, she has supported causes such as COVID-19 vaccine research and disaster relief efforts in Tennessee. Her Imagination Library, founded in 1995, continues to send free books to children across the world, helping to inspire a love of reading.
Parton closed her remarks with a heartfelt message to the community: “I am totally with you because I am part of you. I love you.”