Nashville International Airport will be renamed to honor country music legend Dolly Parton, following a unanimous vote by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board of commissioners. The decision marks a significant posthumous honor for the singer, who passed away on August 25 at the age of 80.
The board voted 6-0 to begin the process of changing the airport's name. While a final name has not yet been determined, the airport authority stated that it is working closely with appropriate parties to thoughtfully incorporate Parton's name and legacy. This move is historic, as Parton is set to become the first woman to have her name on one of the top 50 busiest airports in the United States.
This renaming comes after a petition initiated by Parton fan Lydia Popovich gained over 175,000 signatures following the singer's death. The airport authority described the vote as the "first step in a multifaceted process" and expects to share more detailed plans in the coming months.
The final name will be decided by airport leaders in conjunction with the Dollywood Foundation, a nonprofit established by Parton in 1988. The airport authority also had to modify its existing naming policy, which typically requires individuals to have been deceased for at least two years.
Parton had previously declined honors during her lifetime. In 2021, she pushed back against a proposed bill to erect a monument in Tennessee, stating that while she was humbled, she did not believe it was appropriate at the time. She expressed hope that such an honor might be considered years later or posthumously.
News of the renaming follows comments from Parton's sister, Stella Parton, who stated that she had not received condolences from anyone in Nashville since Dolly's passing. Stella speculated this silence might be related to her own social media activism and political commentary, contrasting it with Dolly's famously private stance on political matters.
Dolly Parton, widely known as the "Queen of Country," had a career spanning six decades, with hit songs including "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You." Her representatives announced her death on August 25, citing a brief battle with an undisclosed cancer. She had reportedly been hospitalized days earlier for autoimmune and kidney issues.
Numerous public figures, including former First Lady Hillary Clinton, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, and fellow musicians Reba McEntire and Kacey Musgraves, paid tribute to Parton following her death. President Donald Trump also honored her by ordering American flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide for one week.