08/28/2026
We’d be remiss to let this week end without giving a little credit, and a whole lot of love, to one of East Tennessee’s own. 🦋
Dolly Parton has never forgotten where she came from, and when East Tennessee hurts, she shows up.
When the devastating wildfires tore through Gatlinburg and Sevier County in 2016, Dolly didn’t just offer words of support. She created the My People Fund, putting millions of dollars directly into the hands of families who had lost their homes. More than 900 families ultimately received assistance. Then, in 2024, when Hurricane Helene devastated communities across East Tennessee, Dolly stepped up again. She personally donated $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation, and her East Tennessee businesses and the Dollywood Foundation matched that with another $1 million. That $2 million went toward helping families impacted by the catastrophic flooding.
As a 911 center in East Tennessee, we know that disasters don’t end when the sirens stop or the roads reopen. Recovery takes months and sometimes years. It takes neighbors helping neighbors, first responders answering the call, communities pulling together, and people willing to step up when their fellow East Tennesseans need them most.
Dolly has spent a lifetime reminding us what it means to take care of your people. And around here, we think that deserves a pretty big “Thank you, Dolly.” 💕🏔️🦋
East Tennessee is lucky to call you one of our own.
