Nashville International Airport to be Renamed in Honor of Dolly Parton
The members of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority committee unanimously decided on Friday (September 11) to rename the Nashville International Airport after the late American country music singer Dolly Parton, in honor of this legendary woman from Tennessee.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority announced in a press release on Friday that its committee voted 6-0 to initiate the renaming process for the Nashville International Airport to commemorate one of Tennessee’s most beloved women, Dolly Parton.
The agency stated in the press release that the final name of the airport has yet to be determined, and they are “working closely with all parties involved to decide how to incorporate Dolly Parton’s name and legacy into it.”
The press release indicated that this vote is just the beginning of the entire process, with more details expected to be announced in the coming months.
Dolly Parton passed away on August 25 at the age of 80 after battling cancer, and her private funeral was held on August 28 in Nashville.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, expressed last month his desire to rename the Nashville International Airport to honor “the most beloved daughter of our state,” Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton had deep roots in Tennessee throughout her life. She became one of the most prominent figures in the state through her music career, charitable activities, and the Imagination Library literacy program.
The discussion about renaming the Nashville International Airport in Dolly Parton’s name began in January 2025 when two die-hard fans of Parton initiated a petition on change.org, calling for the renaming of the airport to pay tribute to the legendary singer.
This initiative garnered widespread public support in Tennessee. According to the Associated Press, the calls for renaming the airport escalated after Parton’s passing, with the petition now having received over 175,000 signatures.
The decision to rename the airport in Tennessee is expected to make history, making it the first airport among the top 50 busiest airports in the United States to be named after a woman.