UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D. C.  20549


                                   FORM  8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT
                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):              February 12, 2001



                            UNUMPROVIDENT CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         Delaware                          1-11834                62-1598430
(State or other jurisdiction of         (Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)          File Number)         Identification No.)




     1 Fountain Square                                     2211 Congress Street
Chattanooga, Tennessee  37402                             Portland, Maine  04122
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



                                (423) 755-1011
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



                                Not Applicable
  (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
                                    report)


                           UnumProvident Corporation



                                     INDEX





Item 5    Other Events

      (a) On February 12, 2001, the Company issued a press release attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1


                                   SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                 UnumProvident Corporation
                                 (Registrant)



Date:  February 12, 2001         /s/ J. Harold Chandler
                                 -------------------------------
                                 J. Harold Chandler
                                 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer