Culture 3 min read By Morgan Griffin
Tennessee Governor Proposes Renaming Nashville Airport for Dolly Parton
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton, days after the country music icon's death, with airport officials and Parton's team reportedly engaged in conversations about the tribute.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has announced a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton, the country music icon and philanthropist who died earlier this week. The announcement, made Friday, comes three days after Parton's passing and renews an earlier effort to name the airport after the 11-time Grammy winner, who spent decades giving back to her home state.
Lee's office said it is working alongside the Nashville International Airport, known by its code BNA, in conversations with Parton's team about the renaming. According to reports, Parton's representatives are said to be "touched" by the idea. The proposal also arrives amid a fan-led petition pushing for the airport to carry her name, reflecting the widespread public demand for a permanent tribute to the singer in Music City.
Parton, who rose to fame with hits like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," was widely celebrated not only for her music but for her philanthropy, particularly in Tennessee. Her charitable work included the Imagination Library, which has mailed millions of free books to children, and her substantial donation to fund COVID-19 vaccine research at Vanderbilt University. The airport renaming proposal is seen as a way to honor that legacy while welcoming visitors to the city she helped put on the global cultural map.
The Nashville International Airport is one of the busiest in the Southeast, serving as a major hub for travelers heading to and from the region. Renaming it for Parton would mark one of the most prominent public memorials to the singer, placing her name at the gateway to the city often called the capital of country music. The proposal still requires formal approval from relevant authorities, and no timeline for a final decision has been announced.
The announcement has drawn attention across the entertainment world, with fans and fellow musicians expressing support for the tribute. In a separate development, the rock band Bad Wolves announced a heavy metal cover of Parton's "Jolene" that was intended to feature a vocal contribution from the singer before her passing. The song is scheduled for release on Monday, August 31, as part of the ongoing wave of tributes to the late artist.
Parton's death has prompted an outpouring of remembrances from across the music industry and beyond, with many highlighting her role as a cultural icon who transcended genre boundaries. The airport renaming proposal, if approved, would ensure that her name remains a permanent part of the landscape of the city she helped define.
