Tennessee Volunteers Honor Dolly Parton With Heartwarming Tribute For 2026 Season
The Tennessee Volunteers will pay tribute to Dolly Parton after her death for the entire 2026 football season.
Following the tragic death of Dolly Parton, the Tennessee Volunteers football team will honor the late country music icon in a special way this season.
The Volunteers will take the field in 2026 with a special commemorative sticker of a butterfly and Parton’s first name on their helmets.
For Dolly.
A commemorative helmet sticker will be worn to honor Dolly Parton for every game this season. pic.twitter.com/A1mBw9ZqxZ
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 31, 2026
During a press conference (via WVLT 8), head coach Josh Heupel opened it by paying tribute to Parton. He raved about her impact on Tennessee.
“All that she’s meant across the world, the country, and certainly the queen of East Tennessee,” Heupel praised. “Her ability to give back, make an impact, to people here in East Tennessee. We’ll be wearing a sticker patch on the back of our helmets to represent everything she means here in East Tennessee.”
The Volunteers will begin their regular season on Saturday, Sep. 5, against Furman. That is also their home opener, so expect an emotional crowd in Tennessee.
Tennessee legend Dolly Parton’s tragic death
Parton’s death was announced on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her passing in a video posted on social media.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis, and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he started. “This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.
“As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now,” Seaver continued.
After her death was first reported, People confirmed that she passed away following a “brief battle with cancer.” The type of cancer was not disclosed in the statement to People.
Following the tragic death of Dolly Parton, the Tennessee Volunteers football team will honor the late country music icon in a special way this season. The Volunteers will take the field in 2026 with a special commemorative sticker of a butterfly and Parton’s first name on their helmets. For Dolly.