Tennessee Governor Bill Lee plans to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of country music legend Dolly Parton, following her death from cancer this week at age 80.
The governor announced the decision on Friday after an online campaign gathered widespread support from fans across the country. Parton was born in rural Tennessee before relocating to Nashville to build her historic music career.
Governor Lee said he contacted Parton’s team, who “expressed their appreciation for the extraordinary outpouring of support to honor Dolly”.
”Dolly Parton‘s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement. “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 statement said on Friday.
The renaming plan still requires key official approvals before taking effect. The Metro Nashville Airport Authority board will meet on September 17 to address the proposal. A final decision will also depend on approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
In addition to the governor’s plan, a state lawmaker recently pledged to introduce legislation in the statehouse to rename the facility for Parton.
Public momentum for the change grew through an online petition first created in January 2025. The effort gained fresh attention following the singer’s passing, reaching nearly 160,000 signatures by Friday evening.
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”What a wonderful way to share her light and magic across Tennessee and the world,” the petition says of the move to name the airport after Parton.
Naming airports after public figures is a long-standing practice in the United States. Similar honors include Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.
Over her career, Parton earned 10 Grammy awards and sold 100 million records globally. Her famous tracks include Coat of Many Colors, 9 to 5, Jolene, and I Will Always Love You.
Read This: Dolly Parton – Jolene Lyrics & Meaning
