{"id":79669,"date":"2026-09-25T16:56:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T20:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/?p=79669"},"modified":"2026-09-25T17:36:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T21:36:22","slug":"dolly-day-at-utc-campus-community-celebrates-the-life-and-legacy-of-dolly-parton-on-9-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/news\/2026\/09\/dolly-day-at-utc-campus-community-celebrates-the-life-and-legacy-of-dolly-parton-on-9-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolly Day at UTC: Campus community celebrates the life and legacy of Dolly Parton on 9\/25\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Brianna

UTC student Brianna Johnson spent her Dolly Day volunteering to read books at Tommie F. Brown Academy. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dolly Parton was an East Tennessee girl before she became a country music icon.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true,\u201d Parton once said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A few hours southwest of the Smoky Mountains where she grew up, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga celebrated Parton’s legacy with Dolly Day on Friday, Sept. 25.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The date is a nod to one of Parton\u2019s best-known roles in \u201c9 to 5,\u201d with 9\/25 offering a chance to recognize her work in music, education, literacy and philanthropy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those different sides of Parton\u2019s career showed up throughout the day, both on campus and in the Chattanooga community. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Tommie F. Brown Academy, approximately 250 elementary school students spent part of the day with UTC students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees. The College of Health, Education and Professional Studies and College of Nursing partnered with the school for activities centered around reading and service.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the UTC students volunteering was Brianna Johnson, a junior exercise and health science major from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A

Students made a Dolly Parton tribute on Chamberlain Field.<\/p><\/div>\n

Johnson grew up a Dolly fan. Her dog is named Truvy after Parton\u2019s character in \u201cSteel Magnolias.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDolly is a big thing in my family,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cI think this is just a really fun way to honor her.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson said she saw a connection between spending time with the children and the work Parton has done for young people throughout her career.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe did so many things for children, and she also was just such a kind person that we can all look up to in that way,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt\u2019s important for college kids especially to come to younger children and show them kindness and show them what a future may look like for them.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Valerie Rutledge, dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, said the activities gave the campus an opportunity to recognize the many areas Parton has influenced.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery few people have shown such wide-ranging generosity, a focus on the importance of literacy, a deep love of music and an astute understanding of business,\u201d Rutledge said. \u201cOur celebration allowed us to pay tribute to her across all those areas while recognizing her belief in the value of being a really good person.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Back on campus, Dolly Day continued at the UTC Library.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During \u201c9, 2, 5 \u2026 Action!\u201d the Arts-Based Collaborative invited students to step in front of a green screen and act out their future 9-to-5. Students sang and danced along to Parton\u2019s music, with the option to record their performance for a \u201c9 to 5\u201d music video.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Later in the afternoon, the UTC Library screened \u201cThe Library That Dolly Built,\u201d a documentary about Parton\u2019s Imagination Library and its work providing books to children.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Gary W. Rollins College of Business hosted \u201cWhat Can Business Students Learn From Dolly?\u201d Students, faculty and staff shared lessons from Parton\u2019s career in entrepreneurship, leadership and philanthropy.<\/span><\/p>\n

With \u201c9 to 5\u201d playing nearby, students also took part in an \u201cHR Violation Challenge,\u201d spotting questionable workplace and human resources practices depicted in the movie.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At 5 p.m., the Department of Political Science and Public Service hosted a screening of \u201c9 to 5\u201d in Derthick Hall, followed by a discussion of Parton\u2019s influence, trivia, music and a costume contest.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Dr. Liz Hathaway, a professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, that influence is something she thinks about every day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her office is filled with photos, and the last one she sees when she walks out the door is Dolly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat photo serves as a daily reminder to steward my platform as thoughtfully as she stewarded hers,\u201d Hathaway said. \u201cClearly, I am no Dolly, but she modeled invaluable lessons for me and so many others: work hard, pursue big goals with grit and determination, never take yourself too seriously, bring humor whenever you can, and always, always give back.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDolly never had children of her own, yet think of the countless children whose lives she touched through the Imagination Library,\u201d she said. \u201cThink of how intentionally she invested in the next generation and the opportunities she created for others.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hathaway said that example is also what makes Parton worth celebrating at a university.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer legacy lives in the people she invested in, the wisdom she shared and the lives she changed,\u201d Hathaway said. \u201cThrough her music, her words and, most importantly, her actions, Dolly taught so many of us what it means to use our influence for good.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chancellor

Chancellor Lori Bruce<\/p><\/div>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A

A drawing of Dolly Parton on a UTC Library whiteboard.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Beth <\/a>
UTC students, faculty, staff and alumni volunteered at Tommie F. Brown Academy. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
UTC students, faculty, staff and alumni volunteered at Tommie F. Brown Academy. <\/div> <\/div>
\"Students <\/a>
UTC students, faculty, staff and alumni volunteered at Tommie F. Brown Academy. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
UTC students, faculty, staff and alumni volunteered at Tommie F. Brown Academy. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
UTC students, faculty, staff and alumni volunteered at Tommie F. Brown Academy. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A few hours southwest of the Smoky Mountains where Dolly Parton grew up, UTC celebrated her legacy with Dolly Day.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2000,"featured_media":79697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119405,70,15,61,56,4936,3,122493,205,7712,57,12806,58,64,12778,661],"tags":[127745,127734,123952,127061,127746,48333,127421,12856],"class_list":{"0":"post-79669","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-campus","9":"category-college-of-arts-sciences","10":"category-college-of-health-education-and-professional-studies","11":"category-college-of-nursing","12":"category-community","13":"category-education","14":"category-engagement","15":"category-faculty-and-staff","16":"category-feature-story","17":"category-college-of-business","18":"category-health-and-human-performance","19":"category-library","20":"category-news","21":"category-political-science","22":"category-students","23":"tag-brianna-johnson","24":"tag-dolly-day","25":"tag-dolly-parton","26":"tag-goal-5-1-community-engagement-strategic-plan-2030","27":"tag-imagination-library","28":"tag-liz-hathaway","29":"tag-tommie-f-brown-academy","30":"tag-valerie-rutledge","31":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nDolly 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