Vols fans, put your "tents up" for Jake Shane because he might be the newest Tennessee football fan.
TikTok comedian and podcast host of "Therapuss," Shane was posted in a video over the weekend singing what sounded just like "Rocky Top."
The TikTok comedian and "Therapuss" podcast host appeared in a video over the weekend singing what sounded just like "Rocky Top."
In a video posted by Hunt Brothers Music, Shane was sitting in a restaurant, sporting an orange and white T-shirt and singing "Rocky Top Baby," not the song by the Osborne Brothers.
Tennessee fans were still quick to take note of the reference. The video was flooded with comments about Shane possibly rooting for the Vols.
"Jake Shane Vol fan confirmed," a user commented on the video.
"Wait as a Tennessee alum Jake I'm loving this," someone else commented.
Was Jake Shane singing 'Rocky Top?'
All the markers of a Tennessee fan were there: the orange and white clothing, the singing of "Rocky Top." But no, Shane was not singing Tennessee's unofficial fight song. The influencer was actually singing "Rocky Top Baby," a song written by the Hunt Brothers.
The song is still a reference to Tennessee and the original "Rocky Top."
Will Hunt, a member of the Hunt Brothers, had fun with Tennessee fans excited about Shane possibly being one of them. Shortly after the video of Shane singing, Hunt posted a video of himself dancing with a cardboard cutout of Shane to "Rocky Top Baby." Fans were again excited about Shane's possible allegiance to the Vols.
"Vols x Jake this is so niche," a commenter wrote.
"Please bring him to Neyland," someone else said.
Who is Jake Shane? Does he have any Tennessee connections?
Shane, who was born in Los Angeles but grew up in New York City, began posting on TikTok under the username "octopusslover8" and gained a significant following in 2023 by posting reenactment skits of historical events. Shane would pretend to be things like the iceberg that was hit by the Titanic or Pluto finding out it had become a dwarf planet.
He started his podcast, "Therapuss," in 2024. Shane interviews celebrities and acts as an amateur therapist. He greets guests and viewers by saying "tents up," short for "tentacles," a reference to his TikTok username.
Shane is not a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, nor does he have any connections to the school. Shane graduated from the University of Southern California in 2022.
Who are the Hunt Brothers?
The Hunt Brothers are a band started by Will Hunt and Mac Hunt and are the voices behind "Rocky Top Baby," the song being sung by Shane in the TikTok video.
Like Shane, neither of the two attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, but unlike Shane, they do have ties to Tennessee.
Both attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga for high school. Mac Hunt stayed in Tennessee and attended Vanderbilt University, where he played basketball, according to his Instagram. Will Hunt attended Princeton University, according to his Instagram.
The two said they wrote the song about missing Tennessee and "significant others" who still live in the state.
"Rocky Top Baby" has not been released yet. The song is scheduled to come out on Nov. 13.
Afton Pratt covers trending and breaking news for Knox News and Tennessee. She can be reached at ampratt@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Is Jake Shane a Tennessee Vols fan? TikToker, podcast host seen singing 'Rocky Top Baby'
