Culture 3 min read By Lauren Baxter
Nashville airport to be renamed for Dolly Parton after petition reaches over 160,000 signatures
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that Nashville International Airport will be renamed in honor of Dolly Parton, following a petition with over 168,000 signatures. The proposal will be discussed at a September 17 meeting.
Nashville International Airport will be renamed in honor of Dolly Parton, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Friday, following a petition that gathered more than 168,000 signatures. The tribute comes days after the country music legend died at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
In a statement, Lee said Parton's life is "forever woven into the fabric of our state" and that naming the airport after her is fitting for a place where Tennessee welcomes the world. "It is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness," he added.
The renaming proposal will be discussed at a meeting scheduled for September 17, with additional details expected in the coming weeks. Parton's team has "expressed their appreciation for the extraordinary outpouring of support to honour Dolly," Lee said, adding that they are "touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation."
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell also voiced support for the renaming in a statement shared on Instagram. He noted that Parton had been working with the city on a hotel and museum project called SongTeller, which she described as her love letter to Nashville. "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 wrote.
The announcement follows a petition launched earlier this week calling for the airport renaming. Parton's family said she was "surrounded by loved ones" when she passed away on Tuesday, August 25. They revealed that she had "worked up until the day she died" on projects including an avatar show, a Broadway musical, and several initiatives in her home state.
Parton had given fans a health update last week, sharing that she was dealing with issues she had neglected while caring for her husband of 58 years, Carl Dean, before his death last year. She was also forced to cancel a planned Las Vegas residency in May due to health reasons, having initially postponed the run of shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in October 2025.
Artists across the music world have been paying tribute to Parton since her death. Kacey Musgraves performed a cover of "Here You Come Again" during a recent gig in Boston, while Maisie Peters covered the same song at Reading Festival. Jack White performed "Jolene" at a London show, Orville Peck covered "I Will Always Love You," and The King's Guard played "9 To 5" outside Buckingham Palace.
Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Elton John, and Liza Minnelli were among those who shared messages honoring Parton, remembering her musical influence and extensive philanthropic work. President Donald Trump also ordered flags to be lowered at half-mast for a week across the country to honor her legacy.
