Entertainment Music Country Dolly Parton Extends a 'Prayer' to Those Affected by Tennessee Wildfires Near Her Hometown "I'm proud of how everyone in the area has pulled together like they always do," Dolly Parton said By Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice Instagram Twitter Nicholas Rice is a Staff Editor for PEOPLE Magazine. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. Nicholas writes and edits anywhere between 7 to 9 stories per day on average for PEOPLE, spanning across each vertical the brand covers. Nicholas has previous work experience with Billboard, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Elite Daily. When not working, Nicholas can be found playing with his 5 dogs, listening to pop music or eating mozzarella sticks. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 1, 2022 09:34 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Dolly Parton. Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Dolly Parton is sharing support for those in the path of Tennessee wildfires near her hometown and near Dollywood. On Thursday, the country music superstar, 76, penned a message on Instagram to those affected. "I've been keeping up with everything going on with the fires near my home area," Parton began her post. "It looks scary on TV, but I'm proud of how everyone in the area has pulled together like they always do." Noting that she is "especially proud of the brave men and women who are working to contain the fire," the "Jolene" singer continued, "I know there are some folks who have been affected, and I hope that you will join me in saying a prayer for them." "During this time, I've also remained in touch with my people at Dollywood who have assured me everything is okay there," added Parton of her amusement park in Pigeon Forge. Dolly Parton Opts Out of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ballot, Saying She Hasn't 'Earned That Right' Dolly Parton Talks Giving Back and Being a Tough Boss: 'I Try to Rule with Love and Compassion' Parton, who is a native of Sevierville, Tennessee, shared her message after the Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire started on Wednesday. The blaze is now 45 percent contained and approximately 3,739 acres in size, the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency announced in a Facebook post on Thursday evening. Want to get the biggest stories from PEOPLE every weekday? Subscribe to our new podcast, PEOPLE Every Day, to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday. The organization also noted that the Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire "has affected more than 100 structures," while another, the Millstone Gap Fire, "is approximately 650 acres in size." "Crews will work overnight on both fires and resume airdrops on Friday morning," the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency added. Parton's nonprofit, The Dollywood Foundation, is currently partnering with Mountain Tough, the organization providing resources and support for those affected by the Sevier County fires.