Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 6

102,000 Tennessee Fans Honor Dolly Parton at Opener as Vols Add Season-Long Helmet Decals

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 6

102,000 Tennessee Fans Honor Dolly Parton at Opener as Vols Add Season-Long Helmet Decals

Q: Will Tennessee make Dolly Parton's iconic song a permanent fourth-quarter tradition, forever replacing Morgan Wallen at Neyland Stadium?

No one knows yet whether Tennessee will make Dolly Parton’s song a permanent fourth-quarter tradition at Neyland Stadium. What is clear is that Tennessee has already replaced Morgan Wallen’s “The Way I Talk” for the 2026 opener, and the song used was Dolly Parton’s “My Tennessee Mountain Home.” Athletic director Danny White said a Parton song would take over the fourth-quarter slot, and the stadium played that song Saturday as part of a broader tribute after Parton’s death. But Tennessee has not publicly said the change is forever. Multiple reports note that White did not specify whether the switch is permanent, just as the school has explicitly said the butterfly helmet decal honoring Parton will stay on players’ helmets all season. That difference matters: the season-long helmet tribute was announced clearly, while the fourth-quarter music change was not. The strongest evidence points to at least a 2026-season change rather than a guaranteed permanent one. Tennessee’s social media teased “My Tennessee Mountain Home” ahead of the game, and the opener showed the program is serious about making Parton part of the game-day atmosphere. Given her East Tennessee roots and deep connection to UT, the song is a natural fit and could evolve into a lasting tradition if fans embrace it. For now, the accurate answer is that Morgan Wallen has been replaced for this tribute period, but Tennessee has not officially committed to making Dolly Parton’s song the permanent fourth-quarter anthem.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 6

102,000 fans at Neyland Stadium sang Dolly Parton’s 1974 hit “I Will Always Love You” during Tennessee’s 2026 season opener, turning the tribute into the game’s defining moment.
80-year-old Parton’s death prompted the honors, with every Volunteers player wearing an orange butterfly decal bearing her name on the back of his helmet.
Josh Heupel said the decal will remain all season, calling Parton the “Queen of East Tennessee” and highlighting her roots and philanthropy in the state.
Tennessee also replaced its usual fourth-quarter song with Parton’s “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” extending a memorial that underscored her singular place in Tennessee culture.