Smokies Strong, a title the people of Sevier County, TN, have more than earned in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires. They displayed their strength and courage on the very night the fires started and have continued to do so in the following months.
The Dollywood Foundation established the My People Fund just 48 hours after wildfires swept through the county on November 28, 2016. Each month, starting in December 2016, the My People Fund gave $1,000 to every family whose home was lost or destroyed in the fires. May marks the end of the Fund’s six-month pledge to assist the recovery efforts. Due to the tremendous outpouring of donations and support, the My People Fund was able to increase the amount of the final distribution checks from $1,000 to $5,000 (per family). In total, $8.9 million went directly to wildfire victims.
Dolly was on hand at the CARE MORE Assistance Center on May 4 in Pigeon Forge, TN, to present the last checks to three families and to say thank you to the dozens of volunteers who have staffed the effort. Dolly said,
"We started the distribution in December right around the longest night of the year and I know it felt dark and lonely for so many. But here we are in spring, a time for renewal and a time for hope. I know the money helps but most of all I want people to know we will always provide you a shoulder to lean on."
In addition, Dolly’s My People Fund launched a partnership with the Mountain Tough Recovery Team to continue supporting these families in the coming months by providing $3 million for this effort. Dolly made this announcement during a special media event at Smoky Mountain Adventures in Pigeon Forge, TN, on May 5.
Additional contributions, outside of the My People Fund, helped establish and support the Wildfire Scholarship Fund. Thanks to these efforts, every high school junior and senior in Sevier County, whose homes were destroyed by the fires, will receive a $4,500 scholarship.
Today, recovery continues and rebuilding efforts are underway for the people who are and forever will be, Smokies Strong.
My People Fund from Official Dolly Parton on Vimeo.
The Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund provided $1,000 each month for six months to Sevier County families whose homes were uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the Smoky Mountain wildfires. Any family who lost their primary residence (renters and homeowners) due to the wildfires in Sevier County were eligible.
The mission of the Mountain Tough Recovery Team is to assist individuals and families recovering from the 2016 wildfires in Gatlinburg and the surrounding Sevier County area to rebuild and provide resources for other unmet needs for both homeowners and renters impacted by the fires.
Devastating wildfires claimed the lives of 14 people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings in Sevier County, TN, on November 28, 2016.
Once again, the Smoky Mountain songbird will act as the Grand Marshal of the Annual Homecoming Parade given in her honor. Over 50,000 people are expected to line the route.
The line-up includes beautiful floats, lively marching bands, entertainers, veterans and more. Dolly will sit atop a specially designed float and wave to everyone in attendance.
This year, in honor of the grand opening of Smoky Mountain Adventures and in celebration of the 30th Anniversary at Dixie Stampede, eager parade watchers will have the chance to win tickets to both shows!
See Dolly’s Dinner Shows Giveaway
Before the parade starts, Dollywood and Smoky Mountain Adventures Dinner & Show have special Grand Opening events planned. Dolly will welcome everyone to a special show at Smoky Mountain Adventures. As a bonus, portions of that event will be live streamed on Facebook.
Visitors should arrive early to get a good spot. The parade will start at 6 PM. It begins at traffic light #6 and it will head toward Sevierville to traffic light #3 along the main parkway in Pigeon Forge, TN.
In past years, Dolly’s parade floats have featured some of Dollywood’s newest attractions including Mystery Mine, Wild Eagle, and FireChaser Express. This year will mark the parade debut of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures. Also, Dixie Stampede will celebrate their 30th anniversary in Pigeon Forge, TN.
The May 5 Grand Opening show at Smoky Mountain Adventures is part of a special day of exciting activities in Pigeon Forge, TN. Dolly will welcome guests to the all-new show. Portions of the grand opening will be live streamed, starting at 11 AM, on Facebook giving folks a sample of the fantastic new show.
Starting at 6 PM, Dolly will make another appearance as the Grand Marshal of the 32nd Annual Homecoming Parade given in her honor.
In addition to the grand opening of Smoky Mountain Adventures, Dixie Stampede is celebrating their 30th anniversary season in Pigeon Forge. To mark the occasion, these two fantastic dinner attractions are teaming up to offer parade watchers the chance to win Free Combo Tickets to both shows!
Share a photo of yourself from the parade sidelines* to Facebook, Google+, Instagram or Twitter using #DollysDinnerShows for a chance to win a set of two (2) combo tickets to Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede (Pigeon Forge Location Only).
Winners will be chosen and announced during the parade. The parade starts at 6 PM. All winners will be announced between 6 and 8 PM on May 5 from the official social media outlets of Dixie Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures.
To enter, share a photo of yourself taken along the parade route before or during the parade on May 5, 2017, in Pigeon Forge, TN, to Facebook, Google+, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag, #DollysDinnerShows.
By participating in this contest, you agree to abide by the following rules and give Dixie Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures permission to use your name and profile picture should you be chosen as a winner: (1) you must be 18 years or older to participate; (2) the winner cannot be an employee or relative of an employee of Dixie Stampede or Smoky Mountain Adventures; (3) six random winners will be selected using a hashtag monitoring platform selected by Dixie Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures; (4) the winners will be rewarded with two combo tickets to Dixie Stampede (Pigeon Forge Location Only) and Smoky Mountain Adventures; (5) winners will be notified on the official social media outlets of Dixie Stampede and Smoky Mountain Adventures; (6) winners must pick up their tickets at the Smoky Mountain Adventures box office on the same day before 8 p.m. EST and present a valid photo id. Prize ticket certificates are subject to availability and blackout show times; (7) This contest begins on 05/05/17 at 6 p.m. EST and ends on 05/05/17 at 8 p.m. EST; (8) This contest is in NO way affiliated with Facebook, Google+, Instagram or Twitter.
*You must maintain a safe distance from the parade route. You must remain in accordance with local law enforcement requirements at All Times. NO entries will be considered by anyone who crosses safety boundaries or barricades!
From her early days on "The Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour" to her record-breaking hits and beyond, Dolly Parton has been an ambassador of optimism. A trait she likely inherited from her grandfather, Reverend Jake Owens*. Like his renowned sermons, many of Dolly's songs carry a similar message of faith and inspiration.
"Everything’s going to be all right that’s been all wrong." Dolly penned these words in her song "Light of a Clear Blue Morning." It came to her while driving home from one of her last business meetings with Porter Wagoner. As many know, Dolly wrote what would become her signature anthem, “I Will Always Love You,” as a farewell to her singing partner and dear friend when their business relationship ended. In contrast, "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" was a revelation of clarity and a promise of a brighter tomorrow. A message that she has shared across the globe in all aspects of her career. About the song, Dolly said,
"It was my song of deliverance. It was my song of freedom, and I knew that God was in it. I knew that I was free. And when the Lord has set you free ‘Ye are free indeed.'"
During Easter celebrations, Dolly’s live performance of "He’s Alive" from the 1989 CMA awards is widely shared on social media. She recorded it on her 1989 certified Gold album, "White Limozeen." The song won Don Francisco two 1980 Dove awards for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
During her 2016 Pure & Simple tour, Dolly closed her show with a simple message of love and acceptance. In addition to the four staples of her Imagination Library (Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More) she encouraged people to pray more with "Hello God."
In 2002, Dolly, backed by The Christ Church Choir of Nashville, performed “Hello God” at the 36th annual CMA awards in Nashville, TN.
The inspirational message of "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" is as relevant today as it was in 1977. Its message of hope for a brighter tomorrow will continue to uplift audiences at Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures. Dolly re-recorded the song for her new dinner theatre attraction opening in Pigeon Forge, TN, in May.
"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" by Dolly Parton first appeared on her 1977 release "New Harvest…First Gathering." Also, it is one of 10 original songs on the 1992 Hollywood Pictures movie soundtrack "Straight Talk." Additionally, it's on Dolly’s 38th solo album, "For God and Country" released on Veterans Day in 2003.
Dolly released "He’s Alive" by Don Francisco on her 29th solo album "White Limozeen" in May 1989.
“Hello God” by Dolly Parton was released as a single on her 37th studio album, "Halos & Horns" in 2002.
*Dolly’s grandfather, Reverend Jake Owens, inspired "Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man." She co-wrote the song with her Aunt Dorothy Jo and it appeared on Dolly and Porter’s fifth duet album, "Once More." It is also part of the 2014 Dolly and Porter box set "Just Between You And Me." Listen to a vintage recording of Rev. Jake preaching and a church singing "This Little Light of Mine" featuring Dolly’s vocals.
The epic video created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CMAs was named Video of the Year at the ACM Awards on Sunday, April 2. The win is a testament to the mutual respect and admiration within the country music community.
“Forever Country” produced by Shane McAnally and directed by Joseph Kahn was the first production of it’s kind. It features 29 artists from different eras. The song is a mashup of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by the late John Denver.
After accepting the award, producer Shane McAnally reflected on the recording experience. He recalled the morning Dolly visited the studio to record her “I Will Always Love You” parts. He said,
“I can tell you that the vocal that’s on it is the first thing that came out of her mouth. It is completely untuned and it is exactly the way she sang it the first time. There are no words for that moment.”
Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan hosted the 52nd Annual ACM Awards in Las Vegas, NV.
Forever Country was nominated along with the following:
