Just days after the death of country music legend Dolly Parton, a groundswell of support is building to rename Nashville International Airport in her honor — and Tennessee’s governor is on board.
Gov. Bill Lee and the CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority both voiced support Friday for renaming the airport for Parton, who died Tuesday at age 80. The proposal is expected to be taken up at the airport authority’s meeting next month, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
The push traces back to January 2025, when fans launched an online petition urging officials to rename the airport in Parton’s honor. That petition gained renewed momentum following Parton’s death, surging past 155,000 signatures by Friday.
If approved, the change would make Parton the first woman whose name graces one of the 50 busiest airports in the United States.
Lee said he has already discussed the idea with representatives for Parton.
“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,” Lee said in a statement.
A Life From Poverty to Icon
Born in poverty in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Parton rose to become one of the most beloved and enduring figures in American music. Her hits include “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” and she starred in films such as “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias.” Her appeal spanned generations, geography, and political lines.
Airports named for celebrities are not unusual. Louisville’s airport honors Muhammad Ali, Orange County’s pays tribute to John Wayne, and New Orleans renamed its airport for jazz legend Louis Armstrong in 2001.
But the vast majority of U.S. airports named for individuals honor men. Notable exceptions include Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport in Atchison, Kansas.
Policy Hurdle Ahead
The path to renaming Nashville International Airport may require the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to revisit its naming policy. Current rules state that airport properties should only be named for people who have been dead for at least two years — a requirement Parton would not yet meet.
Both the governor’s proposal and the naming policy are set to be discussed at the airport authority’s Sept. 17 meeting, according to the governor’s office.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/08/29/tennessee-moves-to-rename-nashville-international-airport-to-honor-dolly-parton/