The Tennessee Volunteers will be honoring Dolly Parton with a helmet sticker this season, coach Josh Heupel announced on Monday.
Parton, a Tennessee native, died on Tuesday, Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t also talk about the passing of Dolly Parton," Heupel said Monday. "All that she’s meant across the world, this country, and certainly, the queen of East Tennessee — a lady that was extremely proud of her roots.”
The iconic singer grew up in Sevierville, roughly 30 miles east of Knoxville, where the University of Tennessee is located.
“You look at (Dolly’s) impact, you know, just her ability to give back, make an impact to people, certainly here in East Tennessee. She means a lot to people across this country," Heupel said. “We’ll be wearing a sticker patch on the back of our helmet to recognize her accomplishments and everything that she’s meant.”
Parton often spoke about her upbringing as one of 12 children in what she described as a “dirt poor” family. Inspired by her youth, Parton led several initiatives to give back to her hometown, including her nonprofit Imagination Library, which provides children with access to free books.
The sticker, in the Volunteers’ signature orange, features a butterfly similar to the one in the Dollywood logo, with “Dolly” written in white at the center.
Tennessee, ranked No. 20 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, hosts Furman in its season-opener on Saturday.
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FILE - Dolly Parton performs during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Georgia Nov. 18, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka had a successful start to her U.S. Open title defense, and then it was Carlos Alcaraz's turn.
Sabalenka beat Camila Osorio 6-4, 6-4 on Monday to begin her bid to be the first player to win three straight U.S. Open championships since Serena Williams from 2012-14.
She was followed in Arthur Ashe Stadium by Alcaraz, who won his second U.S. Open title last year. He was facing Roman Safiullin in his first singles match since April after being sidelined by a right wrist injury.
Alcaraz had to save a break point in his opening service game – helped by Safiullin sailing a forehand long with the court wide open — but played better as the first set went on and won it 6-4.
If the No. 2 seed is healthy, he may quickly become a huge favorite with top-ranked Jannik Sinner sidelined by a knee injury and No. 4 Novak Djokovic losing in the tournament's first round for the first time on Sunday.
With the tournament thrown into shock by that result — Djokovic had been 19-0 in the first round at Flushing Meadows, where he won four of his men's-record 24 Grand Slam titles — Sabalenka brought back some normalcy.
She has been to the last three U.S. Open finals, rebounding from a loss to Coco Gauff in 2023 by winning in 2024 and then topping Amanda Anisimova last year to repeat.
“I feel like this is one of my favorite stadiums,” Sabalenka told the crowd afterward. “I really experienced the best emotions here in this stadium.”
Sabalenka changed up her look from last time she played on Ashe. Her orange Nike outfit was covered by orange mesh, rather than the black mesh of last week in her mixed doubles match with Djokovic that drew some criticism on social media. Sabalenka dismissed the comments, saying all that mattered was she loved it, and turns out the reason for the change was simple.
“To be honest, I didn’t know that I have a day dress,” she said. “I thought I have a black dress with orange underneath. I figured (out) when I went to Nike that I actually have day session and night session, which is just like black and orange for the day.”
She must have certainly been happier with the level of tennis she delivered Monday, after a series of poor events coming into the U.S. Open. She was knocked out in the fourth round in both Toronto and Cincinnati, after being ousted at the same point at Wimbledon.
That has left Sabalenka needing help to retain the No. 1 ranking, even if she wins again in New York. No. 2 Elena Rybakina will pass her if she reaches the semifinals, and won’t even need to win any matches if Sabalenka fails to win the title.
Alcaraz also played in the mixed doubles event, looking rusty while partnering with Serena Williams to win one match before falling.
Other U.S. Open champions in action Monday included Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek and 2016 winner Stan Wawrinka, who was facing Matteo Berrettini to begin his final Grand Slam tournament before retiring.
Another top-10 seed followed Djokovic out when No. 10 Arthur Fils, coming off the title in Cincinnati, was ousted by Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4. Tsitsipas, who is unseeded at the U.S. Open for the first time, was asked if he can regain the form that catapulted the Greek to the No. 3 ranking and two losses to Djokovic in Grand Slam finals.
“Why not?” Tsitsipas said.
No. 7 seed Karolina Muchova, the Wimbledon runner-up, rolled to a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Sinja Kraus. But fellow Czech Sara Bejlek, the No. 28 seed who stunned Sabalenka in Cincinnati, fell in three sets to Cristina Bucsa.
See AP’s full tennis coverage here
Stefanos Tsitsipas, of Greece, celebrates winning a match against Arthur Fils, of France, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, returns the ball to Roman Safiullin, of Russia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, follows through on a shot to Camila Osorio, of Colombia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, celebrates after winning a match against Camila Osorio, of Colombia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
