Jason Aldean stepped up to make a huge donation to help the victims of Hurricane Helene after it devastated the southeastern states of Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.
On Friday night, the 47-year-old country singer and Georgia native closed out his 2024 Highway Desperado Tour in Macon, GA, when he presented a check for $500,000 to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R-GA) to help the recovery efforts for those affected by the hurricane, Taste of Country reported.
Aldean also presented a check for more than $6.9 million for Samaritan’s Purse from the GoFundMe launched by former President Donald Trump to help with hurricane relief donations.
Trump even popped up on the screen behind Aldean at the concert with a video message for the crowd, who went wild watching the video.
“We’re gonna make America great again. You’re all gonna be very happy,” Trump said.
Jason Aldean Donates $500,000 To Hurricane Helene Relief, Presents Check For Over $6.5 Million Raised By Donald Trump’s Go Fund Me@Jason_Aldean @burtjonesforga @DonaldTrump #HurricaneHelene https://t.co/x1GF7q6H5ohttps://t.co/x1GF7q6H5o
— Whiskey Riff (@WhiskeyRiff) October 7, 2024
Superstar Dolly Parton announced at a press conference on Friday and said — just as during the 2016 wildfires when she and others stepped up — this is another time to do the same, as previously reported.
“We all have seen the devastation,” Parton said. “I mean, who knew in our little part of the country here, where I was born, raised just right down the road, that we would have this kind of devastation?”
“And I look around, and I think these are my mountains, these are my valleys,” she added. “These are my rivers flowing like a stream. These are my people, these mountain-colored rainbows. These are my people. And this is my home.”
“Today, I wanted to announce that from myself personally, just from my own bank account, I’m donating $1 million dollars today. But also with my Dollywood companies and all the people I’m involved with … [Dollywood Foundation, etc] and we’ve added another $1 million to that,” the country singer continued, saying it’s going to take a lot of money and a long time.
Country star Morgan Wallen also donated to the hurricane victims and wrote that his “family in East Tennessee are safe but I know many are absolutely devastated there and in multiple states.”
“It is going to take a monumental effort and I am in contact with my team and others working on ways I can help,” he added.
Red Cross’ National President for Humanitarian Services, Trevor Riggin, later shared a thank you to Wallen for his $500,000 donation — made through his Morgan Wallen Foundation — “to impact help on the ground now in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene, including his beloved East Tennessee.”
The death toll continued to rise over the weekend, with the Associated Press reporting on Sunday that the confirmed death toll across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia had climbed to 227. Hundreds of thousands remained without power a week later, USA Today noted.
Related: ‘It’s Not Government, It’s Us’: Chris Pratt Issues Plea For Hurricane Victims Following Donation
