Las Vegas, NV (WOKI / WVLT) Dolly Parton is headed back to Las Vegas for the first time in more than 30 years!
The queen of country music will be performing six times at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace for Dolly: Live in Las Vegas. The shows are slated for December 4 through December 13, but tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 25 at 10:00 a.m.
“To say I’m excited would be an understatement,” Dolly said. “I haven’t worked Vegas in years and I’ve always loved singing there. I’m looking so forward to the shows in The Colosseum at Caesars and I hope you are as well. See you there!”
Interested in catching Dolly in Vegas? Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Dolly Parton to perform in Las Vegas for first time in more than 30 years. (Courtesy: WVLT)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee was the only program in the nation to have three players named first-team All-Americans by Baseball America as starting pitcher Liam Doyle, first baseman Andrew Fischer and second baseman Gavin Kilen all earned recognition from the publication on Friday.
With Friday’s announcement, Doyle and Fischer have now both been named first team All-Americans by four different outlets (ABCA, Baseball America, NCBWA, Perfect Game).
Doyle finished his junior campaign with a 10-4 record and 3.20 ERA in 19 appearances (17 starts) and ranks second in the nation with a Tennessee program record 164 strikeouts. His 15.64 strikeouts per nine innings lead the NCAA.
One of the top prospects for the upcoming MLB Draft, Doyle was just the third Vol to ever garner SEC Pitcher of the Year honors and is also the third player in program history to be named a finalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, joining UT legends Todd Helton (1995) and Chris Burke (2001). His impressive list of accolades also includes being named the Perfect Game Pitcher of the Year and the NCBWA District 3 Pitcher of the Year.
Fischer put together one of the most complete offensive seasons in program history, leading the Vols in OPS (1.257), runs (70), home runs (25), RBIs (65), total bases (165), slugging percentage (.760), on-base percentage (.497) and walks (63). His 63 walks tied Chase Headley’s program record from 2005 while his 25 long balls led the SEC and are the second most in a single season in UT history.
The Manasquan, New Jersey, native, was the only player in the country to reach base in every game this season, getting on in all 65 contests for the Big Orange. Fischer’s marks in homers, walks, slugging percentage and total bases all rank in the top 20 nationally.
Kilen, another top 2025 draft prospect, made the most of his lone season on Rocky Top, leading the team with a .357 batting average and four triples. Kilen also ranked second on the team in OPS (1.112), homers (15), total bases (141) and slugging percentage (.671) despite missing 12 games in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury.
This marks the third All-America nod for the junior from Milton, Wisconsin, who was also a first-team All-SEC selection this season after racking up 32 extra-base hits and a career-high 46 RBIs.
The full Baseball America All-America teams can be found HERE while Tennessee’s complete list of postseason honors can be seen below.
Tennessee Baseball 2025 Postseason Honors
Levi Clark – Fr. – DH Perfect Game Freshman All-American – 1st Team
Dean Curley – So. – INF Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (2B)
Liam Doyle – Jr. – LHP Perfect Game Pitcher of the Year NCBWA District 3 Pitcher of the Year Golden Spikes Award Finalist Dick Howser Trophy Finalist ABCA All-American – 1st Team (SP) Baseball America All-American – 1st Team (SP) NCBWA All-American – 1st Team (SP) Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (SP) ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (SP) SEC Pitcher of the Year All-SEC – 1st Team (SP) Knoxville Regional Most Outstanding Player Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (SP)
Hunter Ensley – R-Sr. – OF ABCA All-American – 2nd Team (OF) ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (OF) All-SEC – 2nd Team (OF) SEC All-Defensive Team (OF) SEC All-Tournament Team (OF)
Andrew Fischer – Jr. – 1B ABCA All-American – 1st Team (1B) Baseball America All-American – 1st Team (1B) NCBWA All-American – 1st Team (1B) Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (1B) ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (1B) All-SEC – 1st Team (1B) Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (1B)
Gavin Kilen – Jr. – 2B/SS Baseball America All-American – 1st Team (2B) Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (2B) NCBWA All-American – 3rd Team (2B) ABCA Southeast All-Region – 2nd Team (SS) All-SEC – 1st Team (2B)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The SEC announced Wednesday each school’s home and away matchups for the upcoming 2025-26 men’s basketball season.
The conference slate will run from Jan. 3 to March 7, with each team playing 18 games. Tennessee will face three teams both at home and on the road: Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
The Volunteers are slated to host nine SEC games on their home floor. Tennessee will play Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt at Food City Center. The outings against the Sooners and Longhorns will be the first in conference play in Knoxville in each series.
Tennessee will face Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt on the road.
This year’s home/away designations for Tennessee are nearly an exact reverse of 2024-25, with the lone exception being Alabama replacing Florida as a home-and-home matchup, while the Gators become a road-only foe.
The Volunteers are coming off one of the best campaigns in program history, as they went 30-8 (12-6 SEC) and reached the Elite Eight for the second year in a row. Tennessee, also for the second consecutive year, finished fifth nationally in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and KenPom rankings.
Fans interested in purchasing season tickets for the 2025-26 season are encouraged to click HERE and fill out an interest form.
Game dates, times and network designations will all be released at a later point in the offseason.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee’s SEC opponents for the upcoming season have been revealed, as the conference office announced Tuesday each school’s foes for the 2025-26 campaign.
As part of the 16-game SEC schedule awaiting second-year UT head coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols play host to Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
On the road, UT will battle Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
The SEC schedule consists of a single round robin of home or away (14 games) with one rotating opponent that will be played at home and away (two games). Each team will compete in eight home games and eight away games. The rotating opponent changes annually, and that foe for Tennessee this season is MSU.
This marks the 17th season of the 16-game schedule for SEC women’s basketball and the second with 16 teams after Oklahoma and Texas made their debuts in the league in 2024-25. Times, dates and television information for the 2025-26 SEC schedule will be released at a later date, as will the remainder of the Lady Vol non-conference slate. Season tickets are available at AllVols.com.
Six of the league opponents UT will face are ranked among ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early Top 25,” including defending NCAA runner-up and No. 1-ranked South Carolina, No. 4 Texas, No. 5 LSU, No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 11 Vanderbilt and No. 13 Ole Miss.
UT also previously released a trio of non-conference games away from Knoxville, including its season opener vs. No. 9 NC State in Greensboro, N.C., on Nov. 4, a Dec. 3 ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge contest at perennial-power Stanford on Dec. 3 and a match-up with No. 17 Louisville at the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Dec. 20.
Tennessee returns three of its top four scorers and rebounders, including junior guard and All-SEC Second Team/SEC All-Defensive Team performer Talaysia Cooper (16.6 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 3.2 apg., 3.1 spg.), senior forward Zee Spearman (11.7 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) and senior guard Ruby Whitehorn (11.6 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 1.7 apg.). Additionally, it welcomes back key 2024-25 contributors in junior forward Alyssa Latham (3.9 ppg., 3.7 rpg.) and redshirt sophomore guard Kaniya Boyd (4.0 ppg., 1.3 apg., 1.3 spg.).
Also expected to return to the court is redshirt senior guard Kaiya Wynn, who missed all of last season due to injury but averaged 4.4 ppg. and 2.6 rpg. in 2023-24 and has appeared in 94 contests for the Big Orange during her career.
Caldwell and her staff also have recruited extremely well, adding a transfer portal class rated No. 1 by ESPN’s Charlie Creme and a high school signing group rated No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation by most analysts. The transfer class includes 6-foot-4 forward and Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Janiah Barker of UCLA (7.4 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 1.4 apg.), 5-7 guard and All-ACC Second Team selection Nya Robertson of SMU (18.5 ppg., 62 3FGs, 111 FTs) and 6-5 forward Jersey Wolfenbarger of LSU (4.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 63% FG). The stellar prep class includes McDonald’s All-Americans Mia Pauldo, Deniya Prawl and Jaida Civil, as well as Mia’s twin sister, Mya, and Lauren Hurst, all of whom rank among ESPN’s top 60 recruits in the class of 2025.
It’s Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country Wristband time!
107.7WIVK is celebrating summer and we are giving you the gifts!
We’re traveling all over East Tennessee Food City’s giving away Dollywood Wristbands for free admission to Dollywood on WIVK Day/Labor Day and Dollywood Splash Country on August 31st or Labor Day, presented by East Tennessee Children’s Hospital!
Download the WIVK APP and listen to the stream to find out what Food City locations and times we will be giving them away!
Dollywood Splash Country wristband distribution rules and guidelines
The Dollywood wristbands are very popular! Each wristband is good for one free admission to Dollywood Splash Country on Sunday, August 31st, 2025 or Monday, September 1st, 2025.
On the date of the wristband distribution, you may arrive at the announced location and get in the wristband cue line. Wristbands will be handed out until the amount of wristbands designated for that distribution date have been given out to WIVK listeners.
The WIVK promotions staff will give out one wristband per person to listeners age 4 & up. (age 3 and under are admitted free to Dollywood). You must be present to receive a wristband.
Dollywood wristband distribution rules and guidelines
The Dollywood wristbands are very popular! Each wristband is good for one free admission to Dollywood Theme Park Splash Country on Monday, September 1st, 2025.
On the date of the wristband distribution, you may arrive at the announced location and get in the wristband cue line. Wristbands will be handed out until the amount of wristbands designated for that distribution date have been given out to WIVK listeners.
The WIVK promotions staff will give out one wristband per person to listeners age 4 & up. (age 3 and under are admitted free to Dollywood). You must be present to receive a wristband.
Story courtesy of WVLT: KNOXVILLE, TN (WVLT) – Private schools have prepared for Gov. Bill Lee’s new school voucher program with nearly 40,000 families looking to cash in on the scholarships.
This coming school year, only 20,000 students will be granted scholarships from the program. State numbers show 244 private schools have opted-in to allow families to use the scholarships at their private school.
This includes all 10 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Knoville.
“It’s been very rewarding for the schools as well as the families of course,” interim superintendent for the Diocese of Knoxville, George Valadie, said. “There was a lot of leadup to it; a lot of education to our families, a lot of education of families in our parishes.”
The schools in this part of East Tennessee include Knoxville Catholic and Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Valadie added some families are not having to switch schools to get this scholarship.
“Some of the families who have applied and received vouchers were already enrolled,” Valadie said.
Some schools are having to put students on a waitlist with so many families trying to attend certain schools. Valadie said some schools are already full.
“We had some families reach out to a school and a specific grad that they were trying to get into, we were just full. But, another family reached out, a similar family, and the grade they wanted to get into was open,” Valadie said.
Valadie said how the process works of accepting students through the voucher program is that a family will reach out to the state and notify them of the school they’re looking to send their child to. Then, it falls on school leaders to accept them.
Valadie added some students have notified school leaders of their plans to attend, but others they hear about for the first time, so they will ask the family questions about the student before giving their decision.
Regardless of any factors, Valadie believes families should have this choice.
“They might not consider us. They may consider a different private school, but at least they can find the one that works best for their student, so I think that’s what matters,” Valadie said.
The deadline to apply for the program is June 13, and the enrollment deadline is July 15.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Television windows for the 2025 Southeastern Conference football schedule, as well as additional game times were announced by ESPN Wednesday afternoon.
Two non-conference home games for Tennessee will air on SEC Network. The Volunteers host UAB on Sept. 20 at 12:45 p.m. ET and will take on New Mexico State for Homecoming on Nov. 15 at 4:15 p.m.
Five of Tennessee’s SEC games have been flexed – at Mississippi State (Sept. 27), Arkansas (Oct. 11), at Alabama (Oct. 18), Oklahoma (Nov. 1) and at Florida (Nov. 22). Flex kickoff times are slated between 3:30-4:30 p.m. or 6-8 p.m.
The Vols’ road game at Kentucky on Oct. 25 will be in the night window – between 6-8 p.m. Nov. 29 Senior Day in Neyland Stadium versus Vanderbilt is set for the afternoon window – between 3:30-4:30 p.m.
For all listed windows (early, afternoon, night, flex), the exact start time within such window(s) will be confirmed no later than six days prior. Fans and viewers looking for more information on this new era for the SEC and ESPN can visit SECNetwork.com/sec-on-abc-and-espn.
Tennessee’s first three games times were previously announced. The Vols open the season on Aug. 30 in the Aflac Kickoff Game at noon ET on ABC. Tennessee then plays back-to-back 3:30 p.m. games in Neyland Stadium – ETSU (Sept. 6) and Georgia (Sept. 13).
Ahead of a first vote by the Knoxville City Council on Mayor Indya Kincannon’s proposed sales tax increase, Kincannon released a breakdown of what that added money will support.
The proposal is for a half-percent increase to the Local Option Sales Tax. This tax allows local municipalities, like cities, to charge their own sales tax on top of the 7% that Tennessee already charges statewide. Currently, this tax in Knoxville is 2.25%, and the increase would put the city’s rate at 2.75%.
Kincannon said that this would put Knoxville on par with several surrounding counties, including Anderson, Blount, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties.
If the increase is passed, the added money will go towards the Five-Year Neighborhood Investment Plan, which a spokesperson with the City of Knoxville said will ensure projects within that plan will happen in five years.
According to Kincannon, the plan prioritizes several infrastructure needs, including the following:
Sidewalks within one-mile of schools (Parental Responsibility Zones, or PRZ), impacting neighborhoods surrounding nearly half the schools in the city
Repairs to existing greenways, facilities and parks
Increasing road paving
1,000 affordable housing units
The following are some of the infrastructure upgrades included in the plan across Knoxville’s six districts:
District 1
Sidewalks
Young High Pike near Hedgeapple Lane – PRZ South-Doyle Middle School
Woodlawn Pike near Moody Avenue – PRZ Dogwood Elementary School
W. Martin Mill Pike near Chapman Highway
W. Martin Mill Pike near W. Moody Avenue
Chapman Highway near E. Young High Pike
Chapman Highway near Childress Street
Parks
Charter Doyle Park – playground equipment and dog park renovations
Ijams Nature Center Park – infrastructure improvements
Gary Underwood Park – renovations including basketball goal and playground equipment
Mary Vestal Park – renovations including playground equipment
Scottish Pike Park – renovations including playground equipment
Greenways
Sam Duff Greenway – resurface walking track
Facilities
South Knoxville Community Center – renovations
River Bluff Wildlife Area – improvements to parking, trails and overlook
District 2
Sidewalks
Buckingham Drive near Vanosdale Road – PRZ West Hills Elementary School
Cortland Drive near Sheffield Drive – PRZ West Hills Elementary School
Westwood Road near Herron Drive – PRZ Bearden Elementary School
Middlebrook Pike near W. Hills Road – PRZ Bearden Middle School
Parks
West Hills Tennis Center – pickle ball improvements including new bathrooms and new courts
Safety City – renovations including parking and playground equipment
Greenways
Third Creek Greenway – improvements and repairs
Jean Teague Greenway – improvements and repairs
Papermill Bluff / Weisgarber Greenways – improvements and repairs
Middlebrook Greenway to Jean Teague Greenway – new section – Third Creek connection
Facilities
Deane Hill Community Center – renovations
District 3
Sidewalks
Francis Road near Bearden View Lane – PRZ Bearden Middle School
Glenn Avenue near Fillmore Avenue– PRZ West View Elementary School
Parks
Victor Ashe Park – multi-purpose field improvements
Westview Park – renovations including playground equipment
Greenways
Northwest Greenway – new section connector toward Middlebrook Pike
Pleasant Ridge Greenway – new section from I-640 to Wilson Road
Pleasant Ridge Greenway – new section from Wilson Road to Western Avenue
Facilities
Cumberland Estates Community Center – renovations
District 4
Sidewalks
Buffat Mill Road near Teeple Street – PRZ Belle Morris Elementary School
Barton Street near Washington Pike – PRZ Belle Morris Elementary School
Cecil Avenue near Eighth Avenue – PRZ Fulton High School
Garden Drive near Jacksboro Pike – PRZ Central High School
Garden Drive near Rosebay Road – PRZ Fountain City Elementary, Gresham Middle, and Central High Schools
Jacksboro Pike from school entrance to Essary Drive – PRZ Central High School
Valley View Drive near Whittle Springs Road – PRZ Whittle Springs Middle School
Tazewell Pike and Beverly Road intersection improvements – PRZ Shannondale Elementary School
Millertown Pike near Loves Creek Road
Sanders Drive near Tazewell Pike
Parks
Whittle Springs Golf Course – renovations including parking lot and facility upgrades
Edgewood Park – renovations including fencing and playground equipment
First Creek Park – renovations including playground equipment
Greenways
First Creek Greenway – new section from Mineral Springs to Edgewood Park
Facilities
Fire Hall #15 (Jacksboro Pike) renovations
District 5
Sidewalks
Bruhin Road near Dutch Valley Drive – PRZ Inskip Elementary School
Central Avenue Pike near E. Inskip Drive – PRZ Inskip Elementary School
E. Columbia Avenue near Harvey Street – PRZ Christenberry Elementary School
Harvey Street near Churchwell Avenue – PRZ Christenberry Elementary School
Huron Street near Oglewood Avenue – PRZ Christenberry Elementary School
Henegar Street near Shamrock Avenue – PRZ Christenberry Elementary School
Parks
Sam E. Hill School – renovate into a community center including a basketball court
Lonsdale Park – renovations including a pavilion
Inskip Park – renovations including playground equipment
Adair Park – renovations including playground equipment
Greenways
Adair / Sue Clancy Greenway – new section toward downtown
Facilities
Inskip Pool – renovations to the facility, pool and grounds
District 6
Sidewalks
Boyds Bridge Pike near Brooks Avenue – PRZ Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
Boyds Bridge Pike near Border Street – PRZ Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
College Street near Jourolman Avenue – PRZ Beaumont Magnet Academy
S. Castle Street near Wilson Avenue – PRZ Austin-East Magnet High School
Wilson Avenue near S. Hermbree Street – PRZ Austin-East Magnet High School
Parks
Holston River Park – renovations including playground equipment
Chilhowee Park – infrastructure
Greenways
East Knox Greenway – new section toward Knoxville Botanical Gardens
Lower First Creek Greenway – new section connecting Caswell Park
Facilities
Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center – renovations
Knoxville City Council is set to meet for a first vote on Tuesday. A second vote will then follow on June 24, and if both of those votes are in favor of raising the sales tax, the item will go on the Nov. 4 election ballot, allowing residents to decide whether or not their sales tax will increase.
