Nashville Airport Could Soon Bear Dolly Parton’s Name as Fan Petition Explodes

A grassroots campaign is building momentum to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton, the latest expression of a nationwide outpouring of affection for the country music legend just days after her death at age 80. Other examples include plans for a permanent bronze statue at the Tennessee State Capitol and a performance of one of her signature songs by the guards at London’s Buckingham Palace.Fans first launched an online petition to rename the Nashville airport in January 2025, more than a year before Parton died. Following her passing, the petition surged in popularity, climbing past 160,000 signatures by Friday night and drawing public support from a Nashville City Council member and a Tennessee state representative.On Friday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport, known as BNA, formally announced their intent to rename the airport in Parton’s honor. Their goal, they said in a press release, is to create “a lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world.”Mr. Lee said he spoke with Parton’s team about the proposal earlier in the week, and that they expressed their appreciation for the idea.“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Mr. Lee said in a statement. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. 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.”Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, echoed that sentiment.“BNA is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community,” Mr. Kreulen said in the release. “Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life.”If approved, the change would make Parton the first woman whose name adorns one of America’s 50 busiest airports. The proposal will be addressed at the airport authority’s meeting on Sept. 17.Meanwhile the world has erupted in a sweeping outpouring of affection for Parton, with tributes stretching from Tennessee courthouses to the gates of Buckingham Palace. Even the weatherman is pitching in, with the National Hurricane Center naming a newly formed Atlantic tropical storm “Dolly” on Thursday, just two days after Parton’s death.And happily for the singer’s legacy, rather than the death and destruction that accompanies many hurricanes, this storm is forecast to bring much-need rainfall to drought-stricken Puerto Rico while threatening minimal damage.The naming of the story was purely coincidental. As the hurricane center told USA Today, it does not control the naming of storms. Instead, storm names come from six rotating alphabetical lists maintained by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. The name “Dolly” was chosen in 1996 to replace “Diana,” and was used for storms three times during Parton’s lifetime, most recently in 2020.Retired NOAA meteorologist and longtime Parton fan Roger Edwards called it an “astounding coincidence” in a social media tribute, noting the timing arrived as “people from all walks of life are remembering her music and charitable legacies.”Elsewhere, President Trump has issued a formal proclamation ordering the United States flag flown at half-staff at the White House, all public buildings, military posts, and naval stations through September 1, 2026. And in Nashville, the country music community has committed $2.8 million to erect a permanent bronze statue at the Tennessee State Capitol, honoring Parton’s lifelong bond with the Volunteer State.Musical tributes have been equally heartfelt. The Grand Ole Opry — the historic stage Parton joined in 1969 — dedicated its Saturday broadcast entirely to her memory, with performances from Carly Pearce, Kathy Mattea, and Molly Tuttle. A portion of ticket sales benefited Parton’s charity. At the Country Music Hall of Fame, fans have lined up to sign a community memorial book inside the Rotunda, while the exhibition “Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker” remains open through October 4.The tributes crossed oceans, too. At London, Buckingham Palace guards delivered a viral moment, performing a full brass rendition of her anthem “9 to 5” during the changing of the guard.Landmarks across the globe glowed pink — Parton’s signature hue — including the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, and the Nashville Metropolitan Courthouse. Fans have laid flowers, handwritten notes, and yellow roses at her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, her Sevierville statue, her Knoxville mural, and the gates of her Brentwood home.Parton’s philanthropy extended well beyond her music. Born into poverty in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, she became a global icon known for hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” as well as films including “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias.”She was also a devoted humanitarian. Her Imagination Library has mailed hundreds of millions of free books to children worldwide, and she consistently stepped up during natural disasters in her home state. After Hurricane Helene swept across the southeastern United States in 2024, Parton pledged a $1 million personal donation to relief efforts, with her businesses matching it for another $1 million, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.During that announcement, she reworked the lyrics of her classic “Jolene” into a tribute: “Helene, Helene, Helene, you came in here and broke us all apart,” she sang. “Helene, Helene, Helene, we’re all here to mend these broken hearts.”

Nashville Airport Could Soon Bear Dolly Parton’s Name as Fan Petition Explodes

Nashville Airport Could Soon Bear Dolly Parton’s Name as Fan Petition Explodes

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