Nashville International Airport is moving toward a name change after the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted unanimously on Friday to begin honoring late country music icon Dolly Parton. The 6-0 vote follows public support and a proposal from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.
Unanimous Board Vote Initiates Airport Renaming Process
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Friday to rename Nashville International Airport after the late country music legend.
While a final name has not yet been determined, we are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton's name and legacy will be incorporated,
the airport authority said in a statement.
While the board approved the procedural shift, the decision on the final name is still to come. Officials stressed that the vote marks only the beginning of the process with more details expected in the coming months. Nashville International Airport is one step closer to undergoing a name change honoring Dolly Parton.
This vote represents the first step in a multifaceted process,
the airport authority said. In the coming months, we anticipate having more definitive plans to share regarding the next steps and implementation.
The MNAA said it would share more definitive plans
about next steps and implementation in the coming months.
We are grateful for the tremendous support and enthusiasm from our community and Dolly's fans around the world,
the MNAA said. We look forward to sharing additional details as plans are finalized.
The authority added that more definitive plans regarding implementation will be released in the coming months. Alongside the operational announcement, the board expressed gratitude for community involvement.
Governor Backing and Grassroots Petitions Drive the Change
The airport board’s action follows an push led by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who announced plans in August to pursue renaming the facility in Parton’s honor. Lee described the singer as our state's favorite daughter
and stated the intent was to greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness.
Lee said at the time that he had spoken with Parton’s team about the proposal and that her representatives were appreciative of the support and open to further discussions.
State leaders previously conferred with Parton’s representatives, who indicated they were touched by the proposal and open to further discussions. According to the release, Lee’s office spoke with Parton’s team about renaming the airport after her, adding that her team was touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation.
In keeping with the way Dolly lived her life, her team believes she still has a special way of bringing people together for good, and they hope this tribute can be another example of that enduring legacy,
the release read.
Lee’s proposal was slated to be addressed at the MNAA’s meeting on Sept. 17.
Interest around renaming the airport after Parton was generated in January 2025, when Tennessee residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion created a change.org petition to modify the name of the airport in honor of the singer.
Public momentum grew significantly after Tennessee residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion created an online petition in January 2025 advocating for the name Dolly Parton International Airport.
That petition accumulated more than 175,000 signatures following Parton’s death on August 25 at age 80.
Parton’s Lifelong Ties to Tennessee and Previous Honors
Born in Tennessee in January 1946, Parton relocated to Nashville in 1964 just days after graduating from high school. It was there she built a successful music career and philanthropic legacy and met and married her longtime husband Carl Dean, who died in 2025, one year before Parton’s death.
She established a career in music and philanthropy, alongside her Imagination Library literacy program. Her deep connection to the state also included a previous interaction regarding a proposed state Capitol statue in 2021.
The singer had previously resisted another effort to formally honor her in her home state. In 2021, Parton asked Tennessee lawmakers to withdraw legislation that would have allowed a statue of her to be erected on the grounds of the state Capitol.
At that time, Parton asked state lawmakers to withdraw legislation permitting her likeness to stand on Capitol grounds, expressing humility while leaving the door open for future tributes.
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 said at the time.
She did, however, leave open the possibility of such an honor in the future.
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.
