Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the leadership of Nashville International Airport announced plans to rename the transportation hub Dolly Parton International Airport. The proposal follows a massive public petition and comes just days after the legendary country music icon died at age 80.
Nashville may soon greet its millions of annual visitors with a permanent tribute to its most celebrated daughter. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announced an official intent to rename the facility, widely known as BNA, in honor of the late country music legend Dolly Parton.
Governor Lee and Airport Leadership Push for Rename
The announcement follows discussions between the governor’s office and representatives for the late singer, who died Tuesday at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Officials reported that Parton’s team expressed appreciation for the overwhelming public support, noting they were touched by the proposal and open to continuing conversations.
“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.”
Gov. Bill Lee
State leaders emphasized that the tribute bridges Parton’s humble roots in rural East Tennessee with her status as a global cultural ambassador. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell also backed the initiative, calling the renaming a love letter to Dolly
from the city she helped define on the world stage.
Grassroots Petition Surges Past 150,000 Signatures
While state officials formally announced the partnership on Friday, the momentum began on the ground. A Change.org petition originally launched in January 2025 by Tennessee locals Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion saw a dramatic surge following the singer’s passing. The petition rapidly accumulated 155,501 verified signatures.
Petition organizers expressed deep emotion upon hearing the governor’s announcement.
Local lawmakers quickly moved to align with the public push. Nashville Metro Councilmember Russ Bradford sponsored a resolution asking the airport authority to consider the change, while Republican State Rep. Todd Warner indicated he would introduce formal legislation if necessary.
Airport Authority Naming Policy and Next Steps
Executing the name change requires navigating institutional rules. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority maintains a policy established in 2010 stipulating that airport properties should only be named after individuals who have been deceased for at least two years. Proponents of the renaming hope the governing body will grant an exception for Parton.
The authority has scheduled a pivotal meeting to address both the naming policy and Gov. Lee’s proposal on Thursday, September 17.
Economic Impact and Infrastructure Growth at BNA
The proposed rebranding links a global icon to one of the fastest-growing aviation hubs in the United States. According to an InterVISTAS Consulting Economic Impact Study, BNA generated $13.8 billion in total economic impact in 2024 alone. The airport supported 80,000 jobs that year and contributed $2.1 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
Supporters point out that Parton’s own philanthropic footprint matches the economic scale of the airport. Through The Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, the flagship early childhood book-gifting program has mailed nearly 200 million free books to children worldwide since launching in 1995. As the airport authority prepares to deliberate next month, travelers and fans alike await the formal decision that could permanently stamp Music City’s gateway with the legacy of its most beloved humanitarian.
