Tennessee and Peyton Manning both paid tribute after the passing of Dolly Parton, the beloved singer whose presence had become part of the Volunteers’ football experience.
Parton, known as the “Queen of Country,” was famous for songs including "9-5", "I Will Always Love You", and "Jolene". For Tennessee fans, though, she was also tied to "Rocky Top", a song that has long been woven into the sound of Tennessee athletics. While she did not write it and was not the first to perform it, her version became the one many fans connected with the program.
Her last appearance at Neyland Stadium came in 2023, when Tennessee hosted Georgia. She was greeted with cheers throughout the stadium, including from Georgia fans, and walked out with Manning.
After news of her passing, Manning reflected on that moment in an Instagram post, writing, “There was only one Dolly and I feel lucky to have known her. We’ll miss you, Dolly.
Tennessee won’t be the same without her.”
Tennessee football’s official social media accounts also honored her, posting, “We will always love you, Dolly." The post included an image of Parton performing at Neyland Stadium with “Thank You, Dolly” displayed on the picture.
The athletic department added its own tribute with a video from her Neyland performance set to audio from her song “My Tennessee Mountain Home".
Parton was more than a music star in Tennessee. She was a state icon whose songs often celebrated her love for Tennessee, and her charity work reached people across the state and around the world. She connected with multiple generations, and her optimism and encouragement made her a favorite not just in the Volunteer State, but far beyond it.
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Tennessee Fans Are Pushing For A Tribute That Would Mean Everything
After the announcement of Dolly Partons death, Tennessee football fans quickly turned their attention from social media tributes to a question that feels bigger inside the programs orbit: whether the Vols should honor one of the states most beloved figures on the field this season. Tennessee football and Athletics both posted remembrances online, and the conversation from there shifted into familiar college-football territory, where programs sometimes turn grief and appreciation into helmet decals or other small but visible gestures.
For Tennessee, the idea carries a particular kind of weight because Partons connection to the state is larger than sports and larger than any one moment. The school has not made an official decision on helmet decals, and that uncertainty has only added to the discussion among fans who see the tribute as a natural fit. Around college football, memorial decals have become a way to mark loss, celebrate legacy, and show solidarity, which is why so many Tennessee supporters are watching closely to see whether this season gets one more layer of significance. [Read more 🡒]