Who gets to play with the Bananas? Knoxville picks its favorite

Knoxville has a fun choice to make. Four big names are left in a vote to see who joins the Savannah Bananas for two special baseball games. The team is famous for breaking the rules and making games exciting. Two country singers, Kenny Chesney and Morgan Wallen, are in one matchup. Both grew up in East Tennessee and played baseball in high school. The other matchup puts two legends against each other: Peyton Manning, the football star nicknamed "The Sheriff, " and Dolly Parton, the music icon called "The Queen. " The Bananas don’t just bring good players to the field—they invite all kinds of famous guests. Over time, they’ve had NFL players, musicians, and even viral internet stars join in. This time, the team started with 16 possible guests. They ranked them mostly by how many fans follow them on Instagram. Morgan Wallen, with 9. 2 million followers, got the top spot. The only person without an Instagram, former Tennessee baseball player Chris Burke, got the lowest seed.Voting happens in rounds until the final winner is picked. The first round ended on May 13. Next comes the quarterfinals on May 15, then semifinals on May 18, and the finals on May 20. The winner will be announced on May 21, the same day as the first game at Covenant Health Park. Fans can vote as many times as they want, which is unusual but fits the Bananas’ fun style. The games aren’t just about baseball. The Bananas are known for doing things differently. They dance during games, break old rules, and make sure the crowd has a blast. This makes the guest choice more than just a popularity contest—it’s about who can bring the most energy.