NFL Network to use Dolly Parton in coverage of Draft
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The NFL Network has a lot planned for its three-day coverage of the NFL Draft.
The network will provide live coverage of the Draft Thursday through Saturday of next week from Tootsies to the Draft stage, and they’ve been preparing since May.
To properly showcase Nashville and what it’s all about, the network has taken numerous trips to the Music City to capture its essence.
“It’s alive. There’s no other way to say it. There’s neon lights everywhere, there’s people from there, there’s a ton of visitors, it’s just that energy you feel that we want to capture and convey to the rest of the country and the 31 other clubs that this is a big party,” said NFL Network Vice President and draft producer Charlie Yook. “It’s a culmination and celebration of what we’re trying to do after the combine, after free agency that this is what your team is going to look like so let’s celebrate it. Hopefully, we do a good job of not only selling the event itself but showcasing a city that we truly have fallen in love with.”
Their plan for showcasing Nashville is pretty spectacular – specifically with who they chose to voice their introductions.
“We thought about a lot of names, obviously there’s a ton of country music icons, but the one that resonated with us and spoke to us was Dolly Parton,” said Yook. “She will be voicing our open on Thursday night at 8 p.m. Eastern on the NFL Network. She actually tracked it this week and I’m getting goose bumps in the back of my head because I heard some of the tracks and it’s going to be incredible.”
The NFL Draft in Nashville is something she wanted to be a part of.
“She wanted to do this for us and we’re beyond ecstatic that she read the script, loved it, and wanted to do this to showcase what she loves too which is the city of Nashville, country music, the state of Tennessee and the NFL event itself with the Draft,” he said.
Taylor Lewan is also involved. Although he’s no Dolly Parton, he put together a story for the NFL Network titled, “My City,” where he showcases the places he likes to go in Nashville.
Draft coverage on the NFL Network begins on Thursday, Apr. 25 and will continue through Saturday, Apr. 27.