Tennessee is adding a meaningful detail to its 2026 football look: a commemorative helmet sticker honoring Dolly Parton.
The program announced Monday that the Volunteers will wear the sticker throughout the season, a tribute to the legendary country music singer, businesswoman and philanthropist who was deeply tied to East Tennessee and had a longstanding relationship with the university. Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 after a battle with cancer.
The sticker includes a butterfly emblem, a symbol closely associated with Parton’s brand. It’s a fitting nod for a figure whose reach stretched far beyond music. Born into poverty in Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton went on to sell over 100 million records and became known not only for her singing, but also for her generosity and business success in East Tennessee and beyond.
Her presence around Tennessee athletics and campus was memorable. She joined Peyton Manning to sing Tennessee’s unofficial fight song, "Rocky Top," during the Volunteers’ 2023 game against Georgia at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee also worked with Parton in 2023 on an exclusive "Vols" edition of her Rockstar album.
"I've performed 'Rocky Top' so many times live in my concerts through the years, and I know how much that song means to Vols fans," she said at the time.
Parton’s connection to the university also included serving as commencement speaker for Tennessee’s class of 2009, when she received an honorary doctor of humane and musical letters. She later brought her world concert tour to the university’s basketball arena in 2011 and 2014.
The Volunteers open the season against Furman on Saturday.
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