One of the most well-known figures from East Tennessee had a special treat in store for fans attending the University of Tennessee Georgia game at Neyland Stadium.
Attendees of Saturday’s Vols vs. Bulldogs game included Dolly Parton, who even made an appearance on the field towards the end of the first quarter. She had to sing for the occasion, in typical Dolly fashion.
Whether they were watching the game live or on TV, fans saw Parton and Peyton Manning sing “Rocky Top” on the field, supported by the Pride of the Southland Band and the University of Tennessee Choir.
Dolly was a delight, asking Georgian fans to join her in signing. Later, she joked that she couldn’t hear because the noise from the fans at Neyland Stadium was so loud and her audio went out.
On the University of Tennessee Athletics audio broadcast, Parton was heard thanking the audience and expressing her pride in being there after her performance.
“Well, I love the song, even though I couldn’t hear it!” stated Parton. “I just wanted to say how happy I am to be here and how much I appreciate you paying such close attention to everything we do. I experienced some difficulty hearing, but as we all know, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant wrote the song “Rocky Top,” and Dale, their son, is performing at the stadium this evening. I suppose we’ll play ball then! I’m grateful.
The day before Dolly was going to the Vols game, her rock ‘n’ roll album “Rockstar” was released.