Country duo Big & Rich have shared personal memories of Dolly Parton's community spirit during the devastating November 2016 wildfires that swept through Gatlinburg and Sevier County, Tennessee. In an interview with Fox News Digital, John Rich and Big Kenny said Parton set aside her superstar status to focus entirely on helping her neighbours, describing her as a "country girl" driven by concern for her devastated hometown rather than a desire for the spotlight.

The pair performed at Parton's "Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund" telethon on 13 December 2016, one of nearly 20 acts involved, which raised more than $9 million (£7 million) for victims after the fires killed 14 people and damaged or destroyed over 2,400 buildings. The funds supported Parton's My People Fund, giving direct financial help to families who lost their homes. Big Kenny added that Parton's warmth and kindness were consistent across every encounter he had with her, and that tributes following her death showed she was respected across political and religious divides. The interview also touched on Big & Rich's new protest single "Hello AI," released 28 August 2026, which criticises AI-generated music being monetised in the industry.