The Hidden Story Behind Dolly Parton’s Unforgettable ‘Rocky Top’ Performance at the 2023 Tennessee Game Revealed!
Advertisement
Parton died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the age of 80, as announced in a video message shared by her family on social media and confirmed to USA TODAY.
“I couldn’t hear because my sound went out and the stadium was so loud,” Parton said after her performance to CBS Sports’ Jenny Dell. “But I was so honored to be here, and I love Peyton, I love the crowd. It’s just good to be home.”
Parton’s end-of-the-first-quarter rendition of “Rocky Top” wasn’t her last that Saturday. As Dell sent the broadcast back to Brad Kessler in the Neyland Stadium booth, Dell’s microphone apparently remained live, allowing viewers at home to hear another line of Tennessee’s unofficial fight song in the background.
Parton served as Tennessee’s commencement speaker in 2009 and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane and musical letters. She additionally held world tour stops on Tennessee’s campus in 2011 and 2014. In 2022, Parton tweeted about Tennessee’s win vs. Alabama the night prior — the program’s first since 2006 — saying, “it’s great to be a Tennessee Vol.”
I said it’s great to be a Tennessee Vol! What a win last night. If I wasn’t out of town it would have been a treat to have been there, and I heard there were some rumors that I would be. Nobody was more disappointed than me to not be there. GBO! 🧡
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) October 16, 2022
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Remembering Dolly Parton’s ‘Rocky Top’ rendition at 2023 Tennessee football game
CHECK OUT THE HOTTEST DEALS ON AMAZON!
2026 Topps Now Joshua Baez #555 1st Player in MLB History to Homer 3X in Debut St Louis Cardinals Rookie RC Baseball Card
$26.50 (as of August 25, 2026 03:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2025 Topps NFL Resurgence Football - Factory Sealed - Mega Box
$105.92 (as of August 25, 2026 03:31 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2025 Topps Archives Baseball - Factory Sealed - Value Box
$24.24 (as of August 25, 2026 03:31 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2025/26 Topps Match Attax Multipack - Look for a Guaranteed Limited Edition Card
$8.98 (as of August 25, 2026 03:31 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2025-26 Topps Chrome Update Basketball Sealed Mega Box (Look For Debut Patches)
$190.00 (as of August 25, 2026 03:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
High Cheese Baseball Walk Off Mystery Pack - 2 Cards, 1 PSA Graded & 1 Autograph/Relic Ungraded
$39.99 (as of August 25, 2026 03:31 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Upper Deck 2024 Marvel Masterpieces '92 Platinum Blaster Box - 24 Count Collectible-Card Box Blaster
$51.80 (as of August 25, 2026 03:31 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
High Cheese Baseball Cards PSA Graded Stolen Base Mystery Pack, 1 PSA Graded Card, 1 Unopened Modern Pack, Rookies and Hall of Famers
$39.99 (as of August 25, 2026 03:52 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2026 Soccer Trading Cards | 55 Unique Collectible Cards per Box | Premium Paper, for Soccer Fans of All Ages, Ideal for Collecting & Trading (Non-Original) (Golden)
$18.99 (as of August 25, 2026 03:31 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Post Comment