Predators Will Wear a Golden Butterfly Patch for Dolly Parton When Hometown Remix Jerseys Debut Saturday

The Nashville Predators are putting Dolly Parton on their sweaters. When Nashville wears its new Hometown Remix jerseys in a game for the first time on Saturday, the uniforms will carry a custom golden butterfly patch honoring the country music icon, who died in August. The jerseys will later be auctioned to raise money for Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

The debut comes against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Bridgestone Arena, with a noon start listed on the arena's event page. The tribute starts before puck drop: in warmups, every Predators nameplate will read "Dolly" above the player's number, according to The Tennessean.

The Golden Butterfly

Parton often used the butterfly as a symbol, and the patch leans into it. The team's photo shows a gold butterfly set inside a navy ring with Parton's "Dolly" signature written in gold beneath it. The Tennessean, which published the first look at the patch Tuesday, reports it will appear on the Hometown Remix jerseys this season. When the Predators first announced the tribute in September, they described it as a patch for a select Hometown Remix game.

Parton died on Aug. 25 in Nashville at 80. Beyond the music, her best-known cause was the Imagination Library, which mails children a free book every month from birth until they turn 5.

"We are also incredibly excited to celebrate Tennessee icon Dolly Parton through these Hometown Remix games," Predators CEO Sean Henry said in the team's announcement, adding that honoring the work she did in the community through the Imagination Library made it even sweeter.

Where the Money Goes

The jerseys will be auctioned through the Preds Foundation, the team's charitable arm. Proceeds will go to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library through the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation. The team has not yet said when the auction opens or where fans can bid.

What the Hometown Remix Jerseys Are

Hometown Remix is a league-wide program from the NHL and Fanatics, with each of the 32 teams getting an alternate jersey built around its city. The full set was revealed on Nov. 2. Nashville's version is inspired by the city's music, artists and fashion: an all-navy jersey with gold trim, tonal filigree detailing on the crest, sleeves and hem, an iris for Tennessee pride, the city's name framed along the hem and a letterpress-style number font.

"These uniforms are a reflection of our community, our culture and the place we are so proud to call home," Henry said.

By the Numbers

• 10 games in the Hometown Remix jerseys this season: nine Saturday home games from November through March and one road game.
• 2 beneficiaries of the jersey auction: Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
• 80 Parton's age when she died on Aug. 25.

The Full Hometown Remix Schedule

• Nov. 7 vs. St. Louis
• Nov. 21 vs. Pittsburgh
• Nov. 25 at Dallas
• Dec. 5 vs. Columbus
• Dec. 26 vs. Detroit
• Jan. 23 vs. Los Angeles
• Feb. 13 vs. Anaheim
• Feb. 27 vs. Los Angeles
• March 6 vs. Minnesota
• March 20 vs. Boston

What's Next

Saturday afternoon is the first look at the navy jerseys on the ice, and the first chance for fans to see Parton's butterfly on a Predators sweater. Watch the Preds Foundation for auction details once the jerseys are off the players' backs.

Patch, auction, beneficiary and schedule details and Sean Henry's quotes from the Nashville Predators' announcement. Patch description, warmup nameplates and jersey design details via The Tennessean. Game time from Bridgestone Arena's event listing. Parton's death and Imagination Library details via NPR.