Tennessee is moving toward giving Dolly Parton one of the most prominent permanent tributes to her extraordinary life and legacy following her death.
The proposal has quickly attracted support from state and local leaders while an existing public campaign has drawn more than 150,000 signatures.
Gov. Bill Lee’s office announced Friday that it is working with Nashville International Airport on a proposal to rename the facility Dolly Parton International Airport.
The effort would attach Parton’s name to a place where millions of visitors receive their first impression of Music City and her home state each year. State officials have already contacted representatives for Parton as discussions about the potential honor move forward.
The effort gained significant momentum following Parton’s death on Aug. 25, although supporters had been advocating for the change well before her passing.
An online petition calling for Nashville International Airport to be renamed after Parton was created in January 2025 and had surpassed 150,000 signatures by Friday.
Lee’s office said members of his team spoke with Parton’s representatives this week and received a positive response to the proposal.
Her team reportedly expressed appreciation for the “extraordinary outpouring of support” and indicated that they were “touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation.”
Parton’s representatives also said they hoped the tribute could become another example of her enduring ability to bring people together.
Lee described Parton’s connection to Tennessee as inseparable from the state’s identity.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said.
“From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her,” the governor added.
Lee said an airport serving as a gateway between Tennessee and the rest of the world would be a fitting place to preserve Parton’s legacy of “music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
The name change is not yet official and must go through additional procedural steps before travelers begin arriving at Dolly Parton International Airport.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority has an established naming policy, and Lee’s proposal is expected to be considered during the authority’s next board meeting on Sept. 17.
State lawmakers are also preparing legislation intended to honor Parton when the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes.
One lawmaker has pledged to introduce legislation formally renaming the airport, while another is planning a measure designating Sept. 25 as “9 to 5 Day,” honoring one of Parton’s most recognizable songs.
Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said BNA’s position as the “front door to Music City” gives it a responsibility to represent the community’s values.
Kreulen said Parton’s life demonstrated that people should receive dignity, kindness and opportunity regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has also endorsed the proposed name change, describing the effort as a “love letter to Dolly.”
O’Connell noted that Parton had been working with Nashville on SongTeller, a planned hotel and museum project that she had described as her own love letter to the city.
“Now it’s our turn to share a love letter to Dolly — by renaming Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport in Nashville,” O’Connell said.
Support for the proposal has crossed political lines, with Republican and Democratic officials expressing interest in seeing Parton permanently honored.
🚨 JUST IN: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee will be starting the process of renaming Nashville Airport to DOLLY PARTON International Airport
A VERY well deserved tribute. This should be a unanimous vote with the airport authority.
140,000 people have already signed a petition to make… pic.twitter.com/ZYsxEtJq31
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 28, 2026
If ultimately approved, Dolly Parton International Airport would place the Tennessee icon’s name on one of the state’s most visible gateways and provide a permanent reminder of the woman who carried Tennessee’s music, culture and spirit around the world for decades.
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