A hype video? But why am I crying…
It’s still hard to accept that the world has lost its the Queen of Country Music, Mrs. Dolly Parton. She passed away last week at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer, and ever since, tributes have been pouring in from all across the world.
Of course, her home place in east Tennessee meant the world to her, and the University of Tennessee is making sure to show love for Parton during the upcoming college football season. How will the Vols be doing that, you ask? In a couple of different ways, actually. The first thing the football team announced was commemorative helmet stickers that they’ll wear in every game that honors her.
An orange butterfly – with Dolly’s name front and center – will be on every athlete’s helmet all season:
“For Dolly. A commemorative helmet sticker will be worn to honor Dolly Parton for every game this season.”
I’m sure Dolly would have been thrilled to know that she’ll be represented on the field at Neyland Stadium. But that’s not all that the Vols decided to do to honor the country star. It’s also been reported that they’ll also make their fourth-quarter anthem at Rocky Top a Dolly Parton song, though it is still-to-be revealed which one.
Fans are speculating, though that it might be “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” which was the title track to her album released in 1973. The cover features an iconic photo of the one room home she grew up in the mountains of Tennessee, and it’s always been one of my favorite Dolly songs.
And the reason for the speculation is because the school posted a hype video ahead of their home opener tomorrow, which is an absolutely beautiful tribute to Dolly, featuring her song. You see shots of a gorgeous east Tennessee farm, as well as people in the stadium preparing for game day, and of course, they show the Dolly helmet sticker too. It’s one of the best hype videos I’ve seen in a long time, and let me just say, I am NO Vols fan, but this is just perfect:
Fans in the comments were joking that they weren’t exactly hyped after watching this video, but rather emotional as the passing of such a beloved woman is still fresh on all of our minds:
“Don’t you dare make me cry in Neyland tomorrow (I’m gonna cry in Neyland).”
“Ok. More tears for Dolly. She was such a treasure. Especially for us East Tennessee people.”
“I’m already sobbing and I’m not even to Knoxville yet. I know our girl would’ve loved every bit of this!”
“I love everything about this.”
“She would’ve have loved this so much.”
“I’m emotional.”
“They will never be another voice like Dolly. Go Vols.”
“She sure did make us proud.”
“DO IT FOR DOLLY.”
“Wow, just wow! Creative, you outdid yourselves!”
“I am unwell.”
“Oh, this is SPECIAL.”
“Literally bawling.”
“Oh I’m sobbing okay.”
“Wasn’t ready for this.”
“I thought this was supposed to be a hype video. Why am I in tears?”
“Oh I’m about to CRYYYYY.”
They did an outstanding job, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect tribute for the east Tennessee queen herself. And if that is the new fourth quarter song, those fans might be crying every weekend.
