Dolly Parton, the true “Queen of Country” who graced stages and screens for decades, passed away on Tuesday at 80 years old, her family announced. This isn’t just a loss for music fans. This icon, with 11 Grammys and three Emmys, also left an unforgettable mark on the sports world, showing a love for the game that ran as deep as her East Tennessee roots.
Queen of the Gridiron: That Cowboys Halftime Show
You wanna talk about guts? In 2023, Dolly became synonymous with the Dallas Cowboys, hitting the halftime stage during their Thanksgiving matchup against the Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Not only did she perform for over 90,000 screaming fans and a massive NFL TV crowd, but she did it rocking a crop-topped Cowboys cheerleader outfit! At 77 years old, man, that’s just legendary. She belted out her classics like “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” then lit up the crowd with covers of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions.” Later, she told USA Today, “I thought, ‘Well at my age, if I can pull it off, it’s going to be good. And if I don’t, I can just pass it off as an old woman doing a stupid ass thing.’” What an attitude! She added, “I’ve always said my desire to do something is greater than my fear of it.” That’s the kind of fearless spirit we love to see in any athlete, any performer.
From Knoxville to Monday Night: Her Tennessee Ties Ran Deep
Dolly’s affinity for her home state’s athletics, especially the Tennessee Volunteers, was a lifelong thing. In 2023, just before her “Rockstar” album dropped, she linked up with both ESPN and the Vols. ESPN started featuring her music during “Monday Night Football” games, which is awesome to hear on a big broadcast, right? And she didn’t stop there. She worked with the University of Tennessee to create an exclusive, Vols-themed version of her album, which even included a live recording of “Rocky Top.” Per Music Row, she said, “My East Tennessee roots run deep, and I am so proud to be partnering with the Vols on a line of merchandise.” She knew how much “Rocky Top” meant to fans, and she was thrilled to include her version on that special album. It wasn’t just studio magic, either. Days before her Cowboys show, she was on the field at a Tennessee vs. Georgia game, with none other than Peyton Manning leading her out, performing “Rocky Top” live! And hey, back in 2019, her face and butterfly logo even graced Tyler Reddick’s No. 2 pink-and-white NASCAR car at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Dolly Parton was an icon in every sense. Her unique, bold presence in the sports world adds another incredible chapter to her story. It’s a reminder that true legends can touch every part of our lives, even the ones you might not expect.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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