The Tennessee Volunteers college football team will honour Dolly Parton with a helmet sticker this season, head coach Josh Heupel announced on Monday. Parton, a Tennessee native, died last week at the age of 80 from cancer.
Heupel stated that the team would wear a sticker patch on the back of their helmets to recognise Parton's accomplishments and her significance, particularly in East Tennessee. Parton grew up in Sevierville, approximately 30 miles east of the University of Tennessee's location in Knoxville.
The sticker is orange, featuring a butterfly similar to the Dollywood theme park logo, with “Dolly” written in its centre. Parton had a close relationship with the university, having performed on campus twice and leading a rendition of 'Rocky Top' at Neyland Stadium in 2023.