The Pride of the Southland Band will use part of the first halftime show during Tennessee football's first game Sept. 5 to honor the late Dolly Parton, a musical icon, beloved philanthropist and the patron saint of East Tennessee.
In addition to standards like University of Tennessee anthem "Rocky Top,"
the halftime show lineup for Tennessee vs. Furman (3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network+) will feature Parton's "I Will Always Love You" and "9 to 5."While the performance will not be shown during the SEC Network+ broadcast, it will be streamed live on the band's Facebook page and will be posted later to its YouTube account.
The marching formation may also salute Parton, Pride of the Southland Band Director Michael Stewart told Knox News. The show, he said,
will be split into two parts: A celebration of Smokey XII’s debut and a tribute to Parton.
Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80, leaving a lasting legacy rooted in East Tennessee that spanned across the globe. Following the Sevier County native's death, UT joined the chorus of institutions and individuals paying tribute to the "Queen of Country Music."
The show will be far from the first time Parton has played a role in entertaining a crowd of Volunteers. She most recently sang "Rocky Top" at Neyland Stadium during Tennessee's 2023 matchup against Georgia after being led onto the field by fellow Vols legend Peyton Manning. Nearly two decades earlier, she recorded her own version of the school anthem, which was released on her 2004 album "Live and Well."
Students in the marching band have been feeling the void Parton left behind, Stewart said, but Saturday's tribute won't manifest with somber tunes. The marching band – whose history stretches more than 150 years – will try to capture the high energy and enthusiasm Parton showed throughout her life.
“I think that’s the amazing thing about Dolly: Her music, her message is universal,” Stewart said.
Parton's death forced the Pride to adapt, trying to accomplish two goals at once: paying tribute to a legend while kicking off the season with new drills, designs and arrangements created for 2026.
A ton of work that goes into performances that can feature dozens of songs, Stewart said, and band members have three official practice times per week to learn how to put on a show Vols will enjoy. Parton’s death left the band with little time to adjust.
“When she passed, the show was kind of already on the field, and we’d played hours into it,” Stewart said.
Stewart said he has a talented group to pull off the challenge. Competition for a spot in the Pride is intense, and even returning members are required to audition each year for one of the band's 415 coveted spots. Once selected, members − most of whom are not music majors − spend weeks preparing for the football season.
The halftime show won't be the only musical tribute. Tennessee plans to replace its usual fourth-quarter anthem − "The Way I Talk" by Morgan Wallen − with one of Dolly Parton's songs for the season opener, though Athletics Director Danny White has not revealed which hit fans will hear.
Tennessee football will also honor Parton with butterfly helmet stickers throughout the 2026 season.
Knox News sports reporters Cora Hall and Adam Sparks contributed information about the Dolly Parton helmet stickers and a new fourth quarter song to this report.
Mariah Franklin reports on technology and energy for Knox News. Email: mariah.franklin@knoxnews.com. Signal: mariahfranklin.01
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Stay seated! Tennessee band will honor Dolly Parton at halftime | Exclusive
