Jul. 2—When Chloe Holladay stepped into her first baton twirling class at the age of 5, she never imagined where the hobby turned passion would take her. This fall, the 23-year-old Hartselle native and University of Alabama graduate will perform for the Tennessee Titans.
“I am the first ever Tennessee Titans’ baton twirler and I cannot believe this is real life. I am so thankful, proud and humble to represent this organization and team. This is truly a dream come true,” Holladay said in a TikTok video announcing her position on Friday.
For Holladay, performing with the Tennessee Titans represents more than an opportunity to entertain fans. It provides her with the opportunity to inspire young girls.
“I used to be that young girl looking up to all the older girls and they made such a big impact on my dreams and my decisions,” Holladay said. “I take so much pride and responsibility that so many young girls do look up to me. I am so thankful and blessed and I do not take this lightly. I want to be the kind of person that can instill values in girls to work hard, dream big and pursue any goal they have.”
As a young girl, Holladay never dreamed of twirling in the NFL. She, rather, set her sights on becoming a Crimsonette for the University of Alabama.
“The first time I saw the Crimsonettes, I was pretty small. When I saw the sequins and the big hair, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness.’ That’s what I wanted to be. I never lost sight of that goal,” Holladay said in a 2023 interview with The Decatur Daily.
Holladay began working toward that dream after a baton instructor performed a demonstration at her elementary school.
“I just really loved it and knew it was something I wanted to try,” Holladay said.
Over the years, while taking lessons at Kim’s Star Twirlers in Hartselle under Kim Robertson and her daughter Paige Robertson Parker, both former Crimsonettes, Holladay never lost sight of her dream.
While in middle school, she traveled all over the Southeast on the weekends performing at competitions.
In high school, she performed with the Hartselle High marching band as a majorette and served as captain of the squad. During her senior year, 2020, the year COVID hit, Holladay tried out virtually for the Crimsonettes.
“Chloe has a strong performance quality. She’s always been super fun and engaging to watch with her facials and power,” Parker said.
As a freshman at the University of Alabama, Holladay earned one of the coveted spots as a Crimsonette. In 2023, she served as co-captain of the squad. After Holladay, who graduated with a nursing degree in 2024, twirled her final game as a Crimsonette on Jan. 3, she began working toward her next dream — to become an NFL twirler.
“I’ve always been a Tennessee Titans fan and a huge fan of the Blue Crew Drumline on game days. I had a dream to twirl alongside them in the NFL one day, but, of course, I thought this was a crazy, wild dream to chase,” Holladay said in her TikTok video.
That dream seemed even crazier given that twirlers, which first debuted as entertainers at NFL games in 1948, have not performed during games since 2002.
“It truly takes risks to dream big,” Holladay said. “I took a risk stepping into a place where there was no blueprint.”
To prepare to accomplish the seemingly impossible, Holladay began practicing five days a week for four to five hours a day. She also created a pitch to show the Titans how she could be involved in the game day experience.
On May 12, Holladay, who credited her faith, family, coaches and teammates for shaping her journey, received the call informing her she would be twirling with the Titans.
“Dreams do and can become a reality. You truly can achieve the impossible,” Holladay said. “This moment is truly so much more than a title and position. It’s a reminder that big dreams can and do come true. Even if they seem too bold, too different or too new.”
The Titans’ first home game of the season will be Sept. 14.
— cgodbey@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2441. Twitter @DecaturLiving.