Inframe News – Tennessee officials are moving forward with plans to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of country music icon Dolly Parton. Governor Bill Lee and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority announced the proposal on Friday, August 28. The announcement came just three days after Parton died at age 80.
The proposed name is Dolly Parton International Airport. Lee said he had spoken with representatives of Parton about the idea earlier in the week. Her team expressed appreciation for the support and said they were open to continuing discussions about the tribute.
The proposal follows a major campaign from Parton’s fans. An online petition calling for Nashville International Airport to be renamed after the singer had collected more than 155,000 signatures by Friday. Support for the petition surged after news of Parton’s death spread earlier this week.
The petition was originally launched in January 2025 by Nashville residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion. Their campaign argued that Parton’s influence on Tennessee extended far beyond her music career. The effort gained renewed attention as fans across the state began organizing tributes following her death.
Parton had a particularly strong connection to Nashville and Tennessee throughout her career. She moved to Nashville after finishing high school and went on to become one of country music’s biggest stars. Her career eventually included more than 100 million records sold, 11 Grammy Awards and numerous acting and business projects.
The proposed airport tribute also has support from Tennessee lawmakers. State Representative Todd Warner said he plans to introduce legislation supporting the name change, while Nashville Council member Russ Bradford has backed the proposal as well. Singer Sheryl Crow has also publicly supported the campaign.
Nashville International Airport already has several connections to the city’s music industry. The facility includes outposts connected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Grand Ole Opry, along with other entertainment-related spaces. The airport serves as a major gateway for visitors arriving in Music City.
There is still a significant procedural issue before the proposed name can become official. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority currently has a policy stating that airport properties generally cannot be named after people who have been dead for less than two years. Parton died on August 25, meaning the current rule would prevent an immediate permanent renaming.
The airport authority is scheduled to discuss both the existing naming policy and Governor Lee’s proposal at its September 17 meeting. Officials are expected to consider whether the policy can be changed or whether an alternative arrangement can be made. The final decision rests with the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.
A plane carrying a banner supporting the campaign also flew over Nashville on Friday. The banner directed people to the online petition supporting the proposed Dolly Parton airport name. The campaign organizers said the effort had received tens of thousands of additional signatures following Parton’s death.
The proposal comes as tributes continue across Tennessee following Parton’s death. Her career included music, film, television, business ventures and philanthropy, including the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library. The program has distributed nearly 200 million free books to children across several countries since launching in 1995.
