Tennessee to wear Dolly Parton tribute on helmets during 2026 season

Tennessee Volunteers will wear a Dolly Parton tribute sticker on their helmets during the 2026 college football season, head coach Josh Heupel announced on Monday. Parton, a Tennessee native, died last week at the age of 80 from cancer.

Parton grew up in Sevierville, roughly 30 miles east of Knoxville, where the University of Tennessee is located. She often spoke about her upbringing as one of 12 children in what she described as a “dirt poor” family. Inspired by her youth, Parton led several initiatives to give back to her home town, including her nonprofit Imagination Library, which provides children with access to free books. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t also talk about the passing of Dolly Parton,” Heupel said Monday.

“We’ll be wearing a sticker patch on the back of our helmet to recognize her accomplishments and everything that she’s meant,” Heupel said. The sticker, in the Volunteers’ signature orange, features a butterfly similar to the one in the logo of Dollywood, Parton’s theme park. The logo also has “Dolly” written at its center.

Parton had a close relationship with the university and twice played on Tennessee’s campus during world tours. In 2023, before a football game, she was walked to the stage at Neyland Stadium by former NFL and Tennessee star Peyton Manning. She then led the crowd in a rendition of Rocky Top.

“All that she’s meant across the world, this country, and certainly, the queen of East Tennessee – a lady that was extremely proud of her roots,” Heupel said Monday. “You look at [Parton’s] impact, you know, 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,” Heupel said.

Tennessee host Furman in their season-opener on Saturday.