Tramell Tillman is one of the stars of “Severance.” | Photo via Apple TV+
And the Emmy goes to — Tramell Tillman. The UT alumnus scored a historic win at the 2025 Emmy Awards. He received the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his role as Seth Milchick in the Apple TV+ show “Severance,” becoming the first Black man + first openly gay man to earn the distinction.
Tillman graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville’s MFA acting program in 2014. As a student, he was quickly recognized as a natural actor and was named a “UT Student to Watch.”
Since graduating from UT, Tillman has accumulated credits in theater productions, on TV, and in movies. In 2018, he was cast in a TV role in AMC’s “Dietland,” and he later worked alongside Tom Cruise in “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.”
UT continues to give Tillman credit. The university named him the “2022 Alumni Promise Award” winner, and he maintains a relationship with UT’s acting programs. Tillman has met with students, and he recently returned to watch a production of “The Giver.”
Escape to Alabama’s Beaches for a sunny fall getaway
Presented by Visit Alabama's Beaches
Fall is the perfect time to visit with fewer crowds, wide-open beaches, and Gulf waters that stay warm well into the season. | Photos courtesy of Visit Alabama’s Beaches
This fall, trade raking leaves for beachside relaxation. At Alabama’s Beaches, fall means sunshine, warm Gulf waters, and wide-open beaches that give you plenty of room to relax.
Knox County Commissioner Kim Frazier has submitted paperwork to run in the county’s mayoral race. Frazier emerges as the third candidate, joining Larsen Jay + Betsy Henderson. Voting will begin with a primary election in May 2026; the general election will follow in August. (WBIR)
Opening
We’re holey excited for H&H Bagels to make its Knoxville debut. The NYC-style bagel shop will open its first Tennessee location on Parkside Drive at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning. If you’re one of the first 200 customers you’ll score a free mystery tote with your purchase.
Environment
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s East Tennessee Nursery is in bloom. The store is offering tree and shrub seedlings that thrive in East Tennessee’s natural climate as part of a reforestation effort. The nursery will remain open through Tuesday, March 31 or until supplies run out.
Drink
Two new Swig locations have popped up and are now open in the Knoxville area. The soda brand added a store on Kingston Pike in Knoxville + another in Oak Ridge. The chain is known for its “dirty sodas” — customized carbonated drinks with syrups and creams. (Knox News)
Number
$4.9 million. That was the price of the most-expensive home sold in Knoxville so far this year, according to Redfin data compiled by Stacker. This is one of four houses in the Scruffy City that sold for at least $4 million in 2025.
Knoxvillian
UT sophomore Bennett Wilson slid to victory at this year’s Red Bull Championship Run — a challenge to sprint up a greased pole over the Tennessee River and retrieve a flag at the end. WBIR reporter Kaitlin Riordan explored how Wilson won and what he earned. (WBIR)
Sports
UT may have lost to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, but the game showed quarterback Joey Aguilar’s unexpected brilliance. Hear how this could be a positive for the Tennessee Volunteers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Try This
Didn’t win our Tix for Two Giveaway? Don’t drop the mic just yet:Tickets are still on sale for St. Paul and the Broken Bones (Sept. 24) and Molly Tuttle (Sept. 28) live at the Tennessee Theatre.*
Job
Ready to kickstart your career in digital media sales remotely? We’re looking for a Sales Coordinator to fuel our fast-paced sales team, with a competitive salary, premium benefits, unlimited PTO, and real growth opportunities to boot. Apply to join our team.
Post of the Day
Fans showed off their colors at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13. | Photo via @vol_football
UT’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday may not have had the outcome we wanted, but it also left us with a more positive image in our mind.
Saturday, Sept. 13 was Checker Neyland day — an effort to turn Neyland Stadium into an orange + white checkerboard. UT fans showed up + showed off their colors. Even though the Bulldogs left the game victorious, we can clearly see UT fans showed their support.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
What’s the best Dolly Parton song? I don’t think there’s a single correct answer, but based on the Knoxville News Sentinel’s bracket-style competition, “I Will Always Love You” was voted the most popular. The track was released in 1974, so I think it’s safe to assume we’ll alwayslove it.
