Tennessee Volunteers fans turned the team’s 2026 season opener into an emotional tribute to one of the state’s most beloved icons, Dolly Parton.
As Tennessee hosted Furman at Neyland Stadium, more than 100,000 fans came together to honor the country music legend. Every Volunteers player wore an orange butterfly decal featuring Parton’s name on the back of their helmet, a tribute that head coach Josh Heupel confirmed will remain throughout the season.
The most powerful moment came when the entire stadium joined in singing Parton’s classic 1974 hit, “I Will Always Love You.” With thousands of voices singing together, the tribute created an unforgettable atmosphere inside Neyland Stadium.
The Vols also changed one of their familiar fourth-quarter traditions. Instead of playing Morgan Wallen’s “The Way I Talk,” the stadium played Parton’s “My Tennessee Mountain Home.”
For Tennessee fans, it was more than a football game—it was a heartfelt farewell to a hometown legend whose impact reached far beyond music.
