Dolly Parton and her Smoky Mountain businesses have stepped up following the recent flooding in middle Tennessee, raising $700,000. The flooding dumped over 15 inches of rain in late August, causing catastrophic flooding and taking over 20 lives.
Raising the money through her Smoky Mountain businesses—Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, and Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud—Parton chose to donate all proceeds to United Way of Humphreys County, which serves the area most impacted by the flooding in Tennessee. Proceeds came from a portion of ticket sales at these businesses from October 2nd–3rd.
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“Dolly was moved to help after seeing the damage caused in Humphreys County, the home of her good friend, country music legend Loretta Lynn,” read a statement posted to Dolly’s website.
“After the Sevier County wildfires in 2016, Loretta was one of the first who reached out to offer anything she could,” Dolly said in the statement. “It meant so much to me that Loretta—and so many folks—were ready to give in any way they could. This was just one small way I could help Loretta’s people for all they did to help my people.”
Loretta Lynn’s ranch foreman, Wayne Spears, died tragically during the flooding.
Head to Dolly’s website to read the entire statement. Furthermore, anyone interested in donating directly to the United Way of Humphreys county can head here for more information.