Dolly Parton‘s Smokey Mountain Rise telethon for the victims of the East Tennessee wildfires has so far raised $9 million.
The telethon aired Tuesday night and donations are still being counted, so the total amount will only rise. Dolly released a statement saying, “I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who have donated from all over the country and to my friends who donated their time, their talent, and money for My People.”
The raised funds will help Dolly make good on her pledge to pay $1000 for six months to all of the families who lost their homes. More than 1,300 homes are said to have been destroyed in the fire which also killed 14 people. (USA Today)
