Tennessee Governor Backs Push to Rename Nashville Airport After Dolly Parton
Governor Lee and Airport Leadership Back the Name Change
Gov. Bill Lee and the CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority both expressed support for the renaming on Friday. The proposal is expected to come up for discussion during the airport authority’s next meeting on Sept. 17.
Gov. Bill Lee stated that he has already discussed the concept with representatives for Parton. Lee remarked in a statement that given how Tennessee welcomes the world at this location, naming Nashville International Airport after the state’s beloved daughter feels entirely appropriate. Should the modification go through, Parton would achieve the distinction of being the first female namesake for any of the 50 busiest aviation hubs in the United States.
Online Petition Surges Past 155,000 Signatures
Fans originally launched an online petition in January 2025 calling for officials to rename the facility in her honor. That effort received renewed attention following Parton’s death, jumping to more than 155,000 signatures by Friday.
The governing authority’s current policy states that airport properties should only be named for individuals who have been dead for at least two years. The governor’s office noted that this policy, along with the renaming proposal, will be addressed directly by the airport authority at its upcoming meeting.
Precedent for U.S. Airports Named After Celebrities
Several American airports currently bear the names of beloved cultural figures, though the vast majority honor men. Notable examples include Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky; John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California; and New Orleans International Airport, which was renamed for jazz icon Louis Armstrong in 2001.
Exceptions featuring women include Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport in Atchison, Kansas. Born in poverty in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Parton built an enduring legacy through hit songs like Jolene and I Will Always Love You, alongside film roles in 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias.