Country icon Dolly Parton has organised a musical telethon to raise money for victims of the Tennessee wildfires that destroyed more than 1,700 homes in the resort town of Gatlinburg.

The event will include performances by Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Alison Krauss and Dolly herself, whose Dollywood theme park in neighbouring Pigeon Forge escaped damage from the fires.

Dolly Parton at Glastonbury
Dolly Parton at Glastonbury (Yui Mok/PA)

Proceeds from the telethon will go to the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund, which was created to provide $1,000 each month to Sevier County families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires.

Officials say 14 people have died and more than 145 others were injured in the fire that spread from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.