Plans to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of the late Dolly Parton are officially moving forward.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced on Friday, August 28. “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 governor’s office confirmed that Parton’s family is “open to continuing the conversation” after speaking to his staff this week. Parton’s team expressed excitement that a potential renaming of Nashville International Airport could unite people of all backgrounds — much like the country music legend’s work.
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority plans to consider Gov. Lee’s proposal during its next meeting on Thursday, September 17.
“[Nashville International Airport, known as BNA] is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community,” Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said in a statement. “Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life. She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status.”
Kreulen continued, “At BNA, we share that commitment. Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care. That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world.”
Parton’s family announced on Tuesday, August 25, that she’d died at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
Her death renewed interest in a January 2025 Change.org petition that called for Nashville International Airport to be rechristened as Dolly Parton International Airport. More than 155,000 people have signed the petition at the time of publication.
“Since her passing, tens of thousands of additional supporters have visited and signed this petition,” petition organizers Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion wrote on Tuesday. “The outpouring of support has reinvigorated our mission — to rename the Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport. A key decision maker, has responded to this petition; Tennessee State Senator Todd Warner has pledged to introduce legislation to make this change happen. We are so very grateful for his support and for ALL of the support coming in.”
They added, “Dolly deserves to be remembered and celebrated. What a wonderful way to share her light and magic across Tennessee and the world.”
Nashville City Councillor Russ Bradford also expressed support for the airport renaming, crediting Parton for helping “define what this city means to the rest of the world.”
“I want to be clear about what this resolution does and doesn’t do: it’s a statement of support from Metro Council, urging MNAA [Metro Nashville Airport Authority] to take up the idea,” Bradford clarified. “The final decision on any name change rests with the Airport Authority, not with Council. I hope that this resolution sends a strong signal of how much our community would welcome this change, and that MNAA will give it serious consideration.”
Tennessee is also the home of Parton’s 168-acre theme park Dollywood, which she opened in Pigeon Forge in 1986 to promote tourism to the Smoky Mountains and boost the local economy. (Parton was born in nearby Pittman Center, Tennessee.)
In the wake of Parton’s death, Dollywood executives decided to keep the park open as a place for fans to celebrate the singer’s iconic life and legacy.
“In her spirit, Dollywood will be open Wednesday as Dolly wanted, always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle — ‘the show must go on,’” a statement from Dollywood read. “Together, we honor her by carrying forward her message of love, perseverance, and hope. Those wishing to give in honor of Dolly may consider making a gift to the organization she was so deeply passionate about, Dolly Parton’s @imaginationlibrary.”
