Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning paid tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton following news of her death at the age of 80. Manning, who played college football at the University of Tennessee, shared a personal connection to Parton through their shared Tennessee roots, posting an Instagram tribute alongside a photo of the pair walking together at a Vols game.

Parton died peacefully in Nashville on Tuesday, as confirmed by a press release and by her nephew, Brin Seaver, after she had spent months battling an undisclosed health issue. Manning's post referenced her memorable performance of the Vols' anthem "Rocky Top" at a game on 18 November 2023, just days before she also performed at a Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving halftime show. Beyond music, Parton amassed 11 Grammy Awards, three Emmy Awards and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award during a career spanning acting, philanthropy and business; she was married to Carl Dean, who died in March 2025, for nearly 60 years. A small private family service is planned, with donations requested for her Imagination Library in lieu of flowers.