Nashville International Airport is getting a new name, and it belongs to the woman who put the city on the map. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 on Friday to begin the process of renaming the airport in honor of the late Dolly Parton, who died August 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. While a final name has not been determined, “Dolly Parton International Airport” has emerged as the apparent frontrunner.
The push to honor Parton began even before her death, when Tennessee residents started a Change.org petition in January 2025. After Parton’s passing, that petition exploded to more than 175,000 signatures. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell both backed the effort, with Lee calling Parton “our state’s favorite daughter” and saying it was “fitting” that the airport greet travelers with “the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness”.
The renaming process could take a year or more. Airport officials said they will work closely with Parton’s estate and the Dollywood Foundation to determine how her name and legacy will be incorporated, including discussions about splitting profits from merchandise sales. The airport’s existing three-letter code, BNA, will remain unchanged. Once complete, Parton will become the first woman whose name adorns one of America’s 50 busiest airports.
