@thecfbhq: Dolly Parton is one of East Tennessee’s most famous icons, born and raised near the Great Smoky Mountains—the same region celebrated in “Rocky Top.” The song was written in East Tennessee in 1967 and became a Tennessee football tradition after the Pride of the Southland Band first played it at a game in 1972. Over the years, “Rocky Top” became the unofficial anthem of Tennessee football, with the band playing it after touchdowns, turnovers, big defensive stops, and other exciting moments at Neyland Stadium. In 2023, Dolly brought that connection full circle when she appeared at Neyland Stadium and helped lead more than 100,000 Tennessee fans in singing “Rocky Top.” The moment connected two of East Tennessee’s greatest symbols—Dolly Parton and Tennessee football—through the song that represents their shared home. Dolly Parton passed away today, August 25, 2026, at age 80, making moments like her “Rocky Top” performance at Neyland an especially meaningful part of her legacy in Tennessee. #CollegeFootball #tennessee #tennesseefootball #sec #dollyparton

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Tuesday 25 August 2026 19:31:12 GMT