Tennessee football made sure Dolly Parton was part of the season opener in more ways than one on Saturday.
As the Vols’ game against Furman moved into the fourth quarter at Neyland Stadium, the familiar sounds of Parton’s “My Tennessee Mountain Home” rolled through the stadium. It was a fitting touch in a day built around honoring the East Tennessee icon after her death last week in Nashville at age 80.
The tribute began with Tennessee’s helmet decals, which debuted Saturday after the program announced Monday that it would wear a commemorative sticker on the back of its helmets for every game this season. The design features an orange butterfly with Parton’s “Dolly” signature across the middle, a nod to the butterfly imagery tied to Dollywood and much of her merchandise.
Josh Heupel addressed the plan earlier in the week during his Monday press conference, calling attention to Parton’s influence far beyond music.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't also talk about the passing of Dolly Parton - all that she's meant across the world, this country, and certainly the Queen of East Tennessee and a lady that was extremely proud of her roots," Heupel said. "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.
"We'll be wearing a sticker patch on the back of our helmet to recognize her accomplishments and everything that she's meant and had an impact here on Tennessee."
Athletic director Danny White also signaled late in the week that Tennessee would go beyond the helmet decal, telling fans in a post on X to remain in their seats for the end of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band’s halftime show and again between the third and fourth quarters. White added, "Our helmet stickers won't be the only way we honor Dolly on Saturday," and "We've got tributes planned throughout the game."
He also didn’t say which Parton song would be used for the fourth-quarter transition, and he didn’t say whether the change would stick beyond Saturday. Tennessee had been using Morgan Wallen’s "The Way I Talk" since the middle of the 2024 season.
White’s message on X also included a reminder for the hot afternoon, telling fans, "Vol Nation, Saturday is almost here!" and "And it's gonna be a hot one.
Please stay hydrated. We'll have free water fill-up stations located throughout the concourse.
Drink it. Please.
I promise it's free."
The football program confirmed the helmet tribute on its official X account last Monday, writing that "a commemorative helmet sticker will be worn to honor Dolly Parton for every game this season." The post included the sticker graphic, which uses the butterfly design and Parton’s signature.
The honors came after a wave of tributes following Parton’s death. Tennessee Gov.
Bill Lee has publicly pushed to rename Nashville International Airport after her. Parton was born in Sevier County, Tenn., and graduated from Sevier County High School.
Her ties to Tennessee football run deep, too. She sang "Rocky Top" inside Neyland Stadium after the first quarter of Tennessee’s game against Georgia in November 2023, appearing on a stage in the south end zone with Peyton Manning before the UT choir joined her. She also delivered a commencement address to UT’s College of Arts and Sciences in 2009 at Thompson-Boling Arena, where she received an honorary doctorate of humane and musical letters.
Parton also made tour stops at Thompson-Boling Arena in 2011 and 2014, and her 2011 show was her first full concert in Knoxville in 25 years. In 2023, Tennessee and Parton teamed up for an exclusive Vols Edition of her album "Rockstar," which included a live version of "Rocky Top." That album became her final solo studio release.
Parton released 49 studio albums in her career and became one of the best-selling female artists in history. Her charitable work included Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which has provided more than 300 million books to children in five countries.
In Other News...
Tennessee Has An Early O-Line Concern Before Georgia Tech
Tennessee got through its opener against Furman without much drama, but the biggest pregame wrinkle came along at center, where returning starter Sam Pendleton was held out after an injury turned up following warm-ups. Josh Heupel said afterward that Pendleton is expected to be ready for the Georgia Tech game, which at least keeps the concern in the short term rather than turning it into something more serious.
Nic Moore stepped in for Pendleton and handled the spot well in his first start, giving Tennessee a workable answer if the situation lingers into next week. Still, center is one of those positions where continuity matters, especially with a bigger test coming up, so the Vols will be watching closely to see whether Pendleton is back in time to restore the line to its intended look. [Read more 🡒]
Faizon Brandon Gave Tennessee Fans A Debate They Didn't Expect
Faizon Brandons first college game gave Tennessee exactly the kind of start fans dream about, even if it also stirred up a conversation they probably werent expecting. In a 56-9 win over Furman, the freshman handled the moment cleanly, completing 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns while adding 68 rushing yards and two more scores, all without turning the ball over.
Mike Matthews and Ethan Davis also left their mark, with Matthews hauling in two touchdown catches and Davis grabbing the games first scoring reception. Brandons debut was polished enough to get Tennessee supporters talking about what comes next, and now the debate is less about whether he belonged on the field and more about what this performance might mean as the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has An Early Shot With A Five-Star In-State Prize
Tennessees recent run of high-profile recruiting traffic has kept the program busy, and it has also put an early spotlight on the next wave of talent. Among the visitors were five-star Cayden Daughtry, four-star Micah Gordon and five-star Bentley Lusakueno, a sign that the Volunteers are trying to stay active with elite prospects while building relationships well ahead of signing day.
Now the attention shifts to a younger in-state target with serious upside. Five-star small forward DJ Okoth, ranked No. 17 overall in the class of 2028, has already lined up unofficial visits to Tennessee, Kentucky and Vanderbilt this fall, giving the Vols an opening in a recruitment that is still in its early stages. With multiple offers already in hand, Okoths first round of visits could help shape how quickly Tennessee can move from being an early presence to a real factor. [Read more 🡒]