Middle Tennessee University's football team will pay tribute to the late country music legend Dolly Parton by featuring her signature and butterfly logo on their jerseys for the upcoming season opener.
The Blue Raiders will don the special jerseys when they face Murray State on September 5, a date that also nods to Parton's hit song and film, "9 to 5." The jerseys will display the years "1946-2026," representing her birth and the current year of her passing.
Athletics Director Chris Massaro stated that the decision was made to honor one of Tennessee's most prominent figures. "Coach (Derek) Mason and I were talking about how we can honor one of the great Tennesseans and one of the greatest people in the world," Massaro said. "The football team is honored to wear this for our home opener."
Parton, who passed away this week at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer, was a beloved figure in Tennessee. Although not an alumna of MTSU, her cultural significance to the state is undeniable.
Following the game, one of the game-worn jerseys will be donated to MTSU's Center for Popular Music, an institution that has extensively documented Parton's career. "We can't wait to have this [jersey] as part of our collection," said Charlie Dahan, the center's director. "We have so much great Dolly stuff… so this is a wonderful addition."
Fans attending the game will also have an opportunity to contribute to Parton's Imagination Library, a literacy program, through a QR code displayed on the stadium's scoreboard.
Parton's death was confirmed by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who shared a video tribute. She had been admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville prior to her passing. In the weeks before her death, Parton had expressed her desire to achieve many more goals, including opening a new hotel and museum in Nashville.