Tennessee Moves to Honor Dolly Parton with Airport Renaming

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee officials announced Friday a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton, the beloved country music icon who died this week at age 80 following a brief cancer battle.

Governor Bill Lee revealed he had spoken with Parton's team about the tribute this week. According to a joint announcement from the governor's office and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Parton's representatives expressed appreciation for the support and indicated openness to continuing discussions about the honor.

The proposal would attach Parton's name to the gateway of Music City, linking the transportation hub to a woman whose influence extends far beyond her musical achievements. Parton, a Tennessee native born in the Smoky Mountains, has been widely regarded as the state's most celebrated figure, known equally for her philanthropy as for her songs.

"Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state," Lee said. "From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness."

The announcement follows a groundswell of public support for renaming the facility. A Change.org petition titled "Rename Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport" had gathered more than 155,000 verified signatures as of Friday. The petition was originally launched in January 2025 by Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion, who argued that Parton's impact through charitable initiatives—including her Imagination Library literacy program—justified the recognition. After Parton's death Tuesday, the campaign saw a surge of additional signers.

State Representative Todd Warner indicated he would introduce legislation supporting the name change. In a response posted to the petition page, Warner wrote: "Yes I will definitely introduce legislation to rename the BNA airport Dolly Parton International Airport!"

Nashville Council member Russ Bradford also committed to sponsoring a resolution urging the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to consider the change. Bradford noted, however, that the authority holds ultimate authority over the airport's naming.

The proposal is scheduled for discussion at the Airport Authority's next meeting on September 17.

The tribute carries particular weight given Parton's history of resisting efforts to elevate her legacy while she was alive. In 2021, she asked Tennessee lawmakers to withdraw a bill that would have placed a statue of her on the state Capitol grounds.

"I am honored and humbled by their intention, but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration," Parton wrote at the time on social media. She explained she did not believe such an honor was appropriate during a period of national challenges, though she left the door open for future recognition.

"Given all that is going on in the world, I don't think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time," Parton wrote. "I hope, though, that somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I'm gone if you still feel I deserve it, then I'm certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean."