Dolly Parton and more perform during Dec. 13 Smoky Mountains Rise Telethon

DOLLY PARTON AND MORE PERFORM DURING DEC. 13 SMOKY MOUNTAINS RISE TELETHON

Great American Country to broadcast benefit for the My People Fund
iHeart Media, Cumulus' NASH Nights LIVE, TuneIn Country Roads & more partners join forces for radio simulcast
Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss Set To Perform

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (December 7, 2016)

Dolly Parton and a number of her friends, including Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss, are set to perform during Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. (EST) on Great American Country (GAC).

Several famous names were then added to the growing list of celebrities: Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Big & Rich, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, LOCASH, Chris Janson and Montgomery Gentry, which also has added three new broadcast partners, AXS TV, RFD and The Heartland Network. In addition, USAToday.com and USA Today National Networks to live stream the telethon on their affiliate newspaper websites, including all Tennessee newspaper sites Tennessean.com, Knoxnews.com, commercialappeal.com, jacksonsun.com, theleafchronicle.com, dnj.com, and others.

* UPDATE * (December 11, 2016) – The impressive lineup of performers continues to grow Hank Williams Jr., Cyndi Lauper, Alabama, Don McLean, Ronnie Dunn, Jamey Johnson and Lauren Alaina have been added to the star-studded telecast.

A number of celebrities will answer phones during the telethon. Paula Deen and her sons Bobby and Jamie, RaeLynn, Dailey & Vincent, Moonshiners’ Mark & Digger, T.G. Sheppard, Jason Crabb, Larry Gatlin, comedian Henry Cho, Tim Rushlow and more will help man the phone lines during the telethon. All of the celebrities are donating their time and performances to help the effort.

“Every day I’m touched even more by the number of people who are joining us to help raise money for the people of the Smoky Mountains,” Parton said. “It is a special place and I’m honored that these people care so much about what we’re doing through the My People Fund to help those who have lost everything due to the wildfires.

The nationally-broadcast, three-hour telethon seeks to raise money for the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund, established by Parton, The Dollywood Company and Parton’s dinner theaters in the wake of last week’s wildfires in the entertainment icon’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee. 

Smoky Mountains Rise also will be simulcast across multiple radio chains, including iHeart Media's digital and select on-air platforms, Cumulus Media's NASH Nights LIVE, TuneIn's Country Roads channel, and several other platforms which are set to be announced shortly. Additionally, other celebrities joining Smoky Mountains Rise include will be announced in the coming days.

“My home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee is some place special,” Parton said. “Wildfires have affected many of the people—my people—who live in those beautiful mountains. We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people and this assistance will help get them back on their feet.”

Dolly Parton - My People Fund from Official Dolly Parton on Vimeo.

The My People Fund will provide $1000 each month to Sevier County families whose homes are uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the recent Smoky Mountain wildfires. Any family who lost their primary residence (renters and homeowners) due to the wildfires in Sevier County will be eligible. 
A pre-application for those affected is available at dollywoodfoundation.org.

During the telethon, viewers will be asked to call 1-866-CARE MORE to donate to the My People Fund.

Anyone who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the My People Fund may visit dollywoodfoundation.org. For those wishing to send donations via mail, those contributions should be sent to: My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.

Please help the Dollywood Foundation share the word about this effort by using the hashtags #MyPeopleFund and #someplacespecial.
ABOUT SMOKY MOUNTAINS RISE
Smoky Mountains Rise is a three-hour telethon broadcast nationally on Great American Country on Tuesday, Dec. 13 to raise money for the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund to benefit those affected by the Sevier County, Tennessee wildfires. Smoky Mountains Rise is executive produced by Dolly Parton, Danny Nozell, Kirt Webster, Pete Owens and Scott Durand. Produced by Edie Hoback, Jeremy Westby, Shanna Strassberg, Nic Dugger and Shantel Klinger.

Academy Of Country Music, ACM LIfting Lives, Taylor Swift Pledge Combined $200,000 To Dolly Parton's 'My People Fund'

The Academy Of Country Music (ACM), ACM Lifting Lives, and Taylor Swift have pledged a combined $200,000 in advance to Dolly Parton's upcoming "SMOKY MOUNTAINS RISE: A Benefit For The My People Fund" telethon on Tuesday, December 13th (NET NEWS 12/5). The $200,000 will go to the DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION MY PEOPLE FUND to assist families affected by the recent, devastating fires in Sevier County, TN.

"The ACADEMY and ACM LIFTING LIVES are honored to contribute in a meaningful way to DOLLY's heroic efforts to help the people of her hometown -- and when Taylor heard what we were planning, she offered to match our gift, which gives it that much more impact," said ACM EVP/Managing Director Tiffany Moon. "We are so grateful to Taylor for her support to the ACADEMY's charitable efforts through the years and for helping us and Dolly Parton assist families in need at a time of crisis.

 For more information on the MY PEOPLE FUND, visit here. https://dollywoodfoundation.org/

CMA, Kenny Chesney Pledge Combined $500,000 To Great Smoky Mountains Wildfires Rebuilding Efforts

The Country Music Association (CMA) and Blue Chair/Columbia Nashville artist Kenny Chesney are combining resources to aid families affected by the GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS wildfires responsible for 14 deaths and more than 2,400 homes and businesses being damaged or destroyed.

Chesney, an East Tennessee native, and the CMA are each contributing $250,000 to the cause with a portion of the proceeds being earmarked for the Dolly Parton "MY PEOPLE FUND."

"Growing up in East Tennessee, the only thing greater than the beauty of the region is the heart of the people who live there," said Chesney. "It is devastating to think of what's been lost in terms of the fire, but overwhelming for the families facing rebuilding their lives -- in many cases -- from scratch. I'm appreciative that CMA shares my hope that these families can feel our love at a time of such tragedy."

“At CMA we feel such a strong connection to the residents of the area who have lost loved ones, as well as those that have lost personal property or income from businesses that are now closed,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Many of our artists and CMA members have close ties to the region as well; and we are grateful to Kenny for his leadership and honored to support him in the recovery efforts in East Tennessee.”