In a statement released Friday, the governor said, “Given that Tennessee uses this hub to welcome the world, it is only fitting that Nashville International Airport carry the name of our state’s beloved daughter and share Dolly’s lasting legacy of music, generosity, faith, and kindness with every traveler.”
An online petition to rename the airport was first launched in January 2025. After her passing, the effort gained renewed momentum, amassing nearly 160,000 signatures by Friday evening.
The petition describes the proposed renaming as “a wonderful way to spread her light and magic throughout Tennessee and beyond.”
The BBC has reached out to the Dolly Parton Foundation for comment.
According to the governor’s office, the proposal would require backing from the Metro Nashville Airport Authority board, which is slated to convene on September 17 to discuss the matter.
Any final decision would also need clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration.
In recent days, a state legislator has vowed to introduce a bill in the General Assembly to rename the airport in Parton’s honor.
Across the United States, numerous airports have been named for prominent musicians and other notable figures, such as Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky.
Parton has earned 10 Grammy Awards and sold more than 100 million records worldwide, with celebrated songs including “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You.”
