Dolly Parton to host telethon fundraiser for Gatlinburg wildfire victims

Dolly Parton's "My People" fund has already raised more than $1 million to support the victims of Monday's historic Gatlinburg wildfire, and an upcoming telethon aims to further increase that figure, said Dollywood Director of Communications Pete Owens.

The telethon is scheduled for Dec. 13 out of Nashville and will last for three hours, Owens said. All proceeds will go to the My People fund, which was established Wednesday after Parton announced her companies would donate $1,000 per month for six months to all the families who lost their homes in the fires.

As of midday Saturday, the fund had raised more than $1 million, and at one point, "we were tracking between $10,000-20,000 an hour," Owens said.

Many details of the telethon have not been determined yet.

"It's really a work in progress," Owens said. "We made the announcement yesterday, so we're working through the logistics now and determining the partners that are going to work on it."

At least 13 people were killed and more than 1,400 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed Monday night when hurricane-force winds sent multiple wildfires racing through downtown Gatlinburg and beyond.

"As you may know by now, there have been terrible wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains, the same mountains where I grew up and where my people call home," Parton wrote in a statement Wednesday. "I have always believed that charity begins at home, and my home is someplace special. That's why I've asked my Dollywood companies...to help me establish the 'My People Fund.' "

The Dollywood Foundation is accepting donations to contribute to the My People fund. To donate, visit www.dollywoodfoundation.org.

Checks can be mailed to the Dollywood Foundation, 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.