Dolly Parton joins Hurricane Helene relief efforts as devastation and death toll mounts

Dolly Parton donated $1 million of her own money to Hurricane Helene relief efforts, the country star announced Friday.

Parton’s Dollywood also added an additional $1 million to the relief fund and donated it to the Mountain Way Foundation. Walmart CEO John Furner joined the musician to explain that the company has set up resources in affected states to provide showers and other supplies to Americans displaced by Hurricane Helene.

“I’m excited to be here,” Parton said at the press conference. “And I’m sure many of you are wondering where I’ve been. Everyone asks, ‘Where’s Dolly?’ Well, I was like everyone else, trying to absorb everything that was going on and trying to find the best ways to do it.”

Hurricane Helene dumped trillions of gallons of water hundreds of miles inland, devastating mountain communities far from the threat of storm surge or sea level rise.

The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure, flooding the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina, after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

MORGAN WALLEN BROADS FOR HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF, SAYS FAMILY IS ‘SAFE’ AMID DEVASTATING FLOODS.

Due to the lack of electricity and cell phones, locals are unable to communicate to find out where essentials are. Communication with family members and emergency personnel is also patchy, and residents rely on temporary cell towers erected at select locations. However, there is still no service or roaming data outside of these locations.

Cars are submerged in a flooded area at a used tire dealer after Tropical Storm Helene in Hendersonville, North Carolina, USA, September 27, 2024. (Ken Ruinard/USA Today Network via Reuters)

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Chimney Rock was devastated by Hurricane Helene when debris floated in Lake Lure. (James Broyhill)

At least 224 people have died in six states as a result of Hurricane Helene, according to FOX Weather. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue to comb new areas.

Ahead of Helene, federal meteorologists told residents in western North Carolina that flooding from the hurricane could be “one of the most significant weather events since 1916.” This year, two hurricanes killed at least 80 people within a week and the Alta Pass community received more than 20 inches (50.8 centimeters) of rain in 24 hours.

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Parton, for her part, has contributed to disaster relief efforts in the past. In August, the musician teamed up with Felix Cavaliere to re-record the popular song “My Hawaii.”

All proceeds from the song will be donated to the Maui United Way – Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund. The fund’s financial support will go to survivors of the 2023 Lahaina and Kula fire. The fire devastated Maui, killing 102 people after Hawaiian Electric’s equipment was damaged by high winds.

Audrey Conklin of Fox News Digital and the Associated Press contributed to this report.