Happy 71st birthday, Dolly Parton!

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Country music legend Dolly Parton is celebrating her 71st birthday Thursday.

It's been a year of highs and lows for Parton, a Sevier County, Tenn., native, to be sure.

She released a new album, embarked on a tour and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the CMAs. She even renewed her vows with husband Carl Dean on the couple's 50th wedding anniversary.

In November, though, tragedy struck her native Sevier County. A wildfire scorched the tourist town of Gatlinburg and surrounding areas, killing 14 people and damaging or destroying thousands of structures.

In response, Parton organized a star-studded telethon last month to benefit those who lost their homes in the fires, raising nearly $9 million.

The My People Fund, started by Parton, The Dollywood Foundation and Sevier County businesses, has pledged to give $1,000 a month for six months to each family who lost their primary residence in the blaze. More than 1,300 families are known to have lost their homes.

The first round of checks were distributed Dec. 15. It was the first of four days last month over which people could pick up the money. Renters and homeowners are eligible for funding.

Foundation officials said the money was being given purposefully with no spending requirements or conditions.

"We want to put the cash in people's hands so they can choose for themselves the path to recovery," said David Dotson, president of the Dollywood Foundation. "We want to give people the resources to make their own decisions."

Here's wishing Dolly a happy birthday!

Contributing: Gerald Witt, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel. Follow the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel on Twitter: @knoxnews