Did Dolly Parton pay for the Texas flood victims' funeral? Viral post debunked

Rumors suggesting country singer Dolly Parton is paying for the funeral of Texas flood victims have been circulating online. It all began on Friday, July 19, 2025, when the Facebook page Classic Country Echoes shared a post claiming the songstress had "stepped up" to pay the funeral expenses of all victims.

It included a picture of an old woman dressed in funeral garb alongside supposed photos from the deluge with the message:

"In an amazing and emotional act of compassion, Parton has PERSONALLY stepped forward to “pay for funeral expenses” and “provide financial assistance” to families devastated by the catastrophic Texas flash floods."

It claimed that her action left "fans in tears. The post went viral with over 32,000 likes and over 6,200 comments.

However, the post is fake and includes AI-generated images. Dolly Parton is not paying for the funerals. No credible sources support the claim.

The Facebook page, Classic Country Echoes, is known to share similar incorrect claims. This includes one alleging Parton's colleague George Strait adopted one of the victims. Further, reviews under the page have previously criticized it for sharing false information.

Dolly Parton previously donated money for flash floods in Tennessee in 2024

The Facebook page Classic Country Echoes alleged the floods in Central Texas claimed the lives of 104, which included 28 children. Referencing Dolly Parton's alleged actions, the post continued:

"Her actions, announced without fanfare, have left fans, first responders, and survivors overwhelmed with gratitude. As heartbreaking stories surfaced on sites like Camp Mystic, Dolly’s QUIET STRENGTH became a beacon of hope amid the tragedy."

According to the BBC, the disaster claimed the lives of 135 victims, of whom 107 were in Kerr County. Notably, at least 27 victims were campers and staff at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls.

The fake post claimed social media users praised Dolly Parton's kindness, even calling her the "soul of America." It cited an article from a website titled Country Music, concluding with the message:

"Dolly didn’t just sing—she showed up."

It is worth noting that Parton has not announced any donations for the 2025 floods in Texas. However, other celebrities have stepped forward to help with the relief efforts. According to Vinyl Me Please, this included Shakira, who promised to donate a portion of the proceeds from her recent concert in San Antonio. Meanwhile, Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris are working to support displaced animals through the former's charity, Mutt Nation.

Last July, a thunderstorm brought on by Hurricane Helene caused flash floods in Newport and other areas in Tennessee. This included her theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge.

According to WVLT 6, at the time, the Jolene hitmaker announced donating $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit set up to help victims of the hurricane. The sum was matched by her businesses in the state, including the Dollywood Foundation. Per the outlet, she teamed up with Coca-Cola to donate water to Cocke County. Meanwhile, Dollywood also donated masks and other disposable garments to help with the cleanup.