The University of Tennessee's football team, the Volunteers, will honour the late singer Dolly Parton by wearing a commemorative helmet decal throughout the entire upcoming season. Head coach Josh Heupel confirmed the tribute, describing Parton as "the Queen of East Tennessee" and praising her pride in her roots and her impact on the local community and beyond. Parton, who died on 25 August at the age of 80 following a brief illness with cancer, had long-standing ties to the university, making the gesture a fitting tribute to a figure closely associated with the region.

The decal, revealed by the team's social media account, is an orange butterfly featuring Parton's "Dolly" signature. Parton's connection to the university included delivering its 2009 commencement address, making multiple tour stops on campus, receiving an honorary doctorate, and leading the Vols' "Rocky Top" performance at a 2023 game alongside former quarterback Peyton Manning. The Volunteers begin their 2026 season against Furman on 5 September at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Following Parton's death, a surge in streaming pushed five of her songs onto the Billboard Hot 100, with "Jolene" re-entering at No. 18 and "I Always Will Love You" debuting at No. 27.