How Tennessee football will honor the late Dolly Parton this season

Tennessee football announced plans to honor the late Dolly Parton with a sticker on the back of the Vols helmets during the 2026 season, per coach Josh Heupel.

Parton died on August 25. She was 80.

“All that she’s meant across the world, this country, and certainly the Queen of East Tennessee,” Heupel said. “A lady that was extremely proud of her roots. You look at her impact, just her ability to give back, make an impact to people, certainly here in East Tennessee. She means a lot to people across this country, but certainly here inside the state of Tennessee, too.”

Parton was an entertainment icon who was well-known around the world. But her story started in East Tennessee. She was known for her career as a recording artist, but her philanthropic efforts in recent years never went unnoticed. She was a regular around Tennessee and attended many Vols events.

Parton led Neyland Stadium in singing “Rocky Top” after the first quarter of Tennessee’s game against Georgia in 2023. She was accompanied on stage by Vols' legend Peyton Manning. She also released an album with UT Athletics earlier that year.

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Dolly was the University of Tennessee's commencement speaker in 2009 and was awarded an honorary doctorate in humane and musical letters. UT hosted her tour a few times during her famed career, which spanned over 50 years. During that time, Parton released 49 solo studio albums. There's a final song she recorded that's currently in a time capsule set to be open on her 100th birthday at her estate in Nashville.

Parton had 25 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Perhaps her best hit, “9 to 5," made it big as the top song in 1980.

Outside of music, Dolly's legacy will live on through her Dollywood theme park in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Her Imagination Library has gifted more than 300 million books to kids under the age of 5.

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