Morgan Wallen donates $500K for Hurricane Helene relief

Country superstar Morgan Wallen is donating $500,000 to the American Red Cross to help his native region of East Tennessee recover from widespread damage in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

The six-figure gift from the Morgan Wallen Foundation, announced Sept. 30, is one of the most substantial donations to efforts helping people harmed by the historic flooding that continues to devastate communities in Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and other states.

"My family in East Tennessee are safe but I know many are absolutely devastated there and in multiple states," Wallen posted in a Sunday Instagram story. "Those hills and hollers are very important to me in so many ways. It is going to take a monumental effort and I am in contact with my team and others working on ways I can help."

Wallen is contributing $3 to his foundation for every concert ticket he sells. Prior to the flood relief donation, the foundation had donated more than $500,000 in East Tennessee alone to other causes, such as music and sports organizations.

The Red Cross offers food, shelter, supplies and support to victims of crisis, including shelters for evacuees. Donations can still be made to the national group's Helene relief efforts.

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"We can't thank Morgan Wallen enough for his heart and generous $500,000 donation to impact help on the ground now in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene, including his beloved East Tennessee," Trevor Riggin, Red Cross' national president for humanitarian services, said in a statement shared with Knox News, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The Associated Press reported at least 133 people have died because of Helene.

Forty of those fatalities have been confirmed in Buncombe County, North Carolina, County Manager Avril Pinder said in a Monday afternoon briefing, raising the total in the state to nearly 50. Officials have received about 600 missing persons reports, although many are expected to be resolved when communications are restored.

Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff.

Contributing: USA TODAY Staff