Tennessee Volunteers honor Dolly Parton with helmet tribute

The Tennessee Volunteers college football team has introduced a special tribute to honor the late country music icon Dolly Parton. Following her death at age 80 on August 25, the team debuted custom butterfly stickers on the back of their helmets during their season opener against Fermin University.

The butterfly sticker, featuring Parton’s name in her signature handwriting in Tennessee’s orange and white colors, will remain on the helmets for the duration of the season. Coach Josh Heupel described Parton as the ‘queen of East Tennessee’ and noted her deep pride in her roots and the significance she held for the state and the country.

Parton, who grew up in Sevierville, maintained a lifelong connection to the state of Tennessee.