Dolly Parton telethon adds Amy Grant, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young to lineup

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene

Dolly Parton's list of friends willing to help keeps expanding.

Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Big & Rich, LoCash, Chris Janson and Montgomery Gentry have been added to the performance lineup for the telethon "Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund" spearheaded by Parton.

Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss and Kenny Rogers , as well as Parton herself, already signed on for the event, which will benefit the victims of the Gatlinburg, Tenn., wildfires that killed 14 people and damaged thousands of buildings.

The telethon will air at 8 p.m. Dec. 13 on GAC. It will also be simulcast on Nash Nights Live , TuneIn's Country Roads channel and some iHeart Media digital and terrestrial stations. Other broadcast partners will be announced.

Parton, a native of Sevier County in East Tennessee, last week announced a fund that would provide $1,000 a month for up to six months to victims who lost their homes. Those interested in donating to or applying for the fund can visit www.dollywoodfoundation.org.

About the Author

Melissa Ruggieri

Melissa Ruggieri has covered music and entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2010 and created the Atlanta Music Scene blog. She's kept vampire hours for more than two decades and remembers when MTV was awesome.