Nashville Airport Board Votes Unanimously to Begin Renaming Process for Dolly Parton

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s board of commissioners voted 6-0 on Friday, September 11, 2026, to begin the process of renaming Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton. The board has not settled on a final new name, but the vote marks the formal start of a tribute to the country music icon, who died on August 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to her family.

• The board’s vote was unanimous, 6-0, in favor of beginning the renaming process.
• The vote also modified the airport’s existing naming policy, which had previously required an honoree to have been dead for at least two years before a facility could be renamed for them.
• A Change.org petition supporting the renaming predates Parton’s death by at least a couple of years and has drawn about 175,000 signatures.
• A separate online petition gathered more than 154,000 signatures within four days of Parton’s death, pushing the state to rename the airport in her honor.
• If finalized, Nashville International Airport would become the first international commercial airport in the United States named after a woman.

What Happens Next in the Dolly Parton Airport Renaming

The airport authority says it has not chosen a permanent name and is instead coordinating with unspecified “appropriate parties” to figure out how best to reflect Parton’s name and legacy at the facility. It expects to release more concrete plans in the coming months, meaning travelers should not expect new signage or an official title right away.

Why the Airport Had to Change Its Naming Rules

Nashville International Airport’s prior policy limited renaming honors to individuals who had been deceased for a minimum of two years, a threshold Parton’s recent death did not meet. To move forward on the tribute without a lengthy delay, the board’s September 11 vote included an update to that policy alongside its decision to begin the renaming process.

What Tennessee Officials Are Saying

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee praised the board’s decision, saying Parton’s “extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state” and calling it fitting that the airport, a gateway where “Tennessee welcomes the world,” would carry the name of the state’s “favorite daughter.”

Nashville International Airport President and CEO Doug Kreulen said Parton’s legacy “reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life.” He added that Parton “understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status,” and said that spirit defines the airport, known as BNA.

Dolly Parton Once Joked About an Airport Bearing Her Name

When the idea of renaming the airport for her first came up in 2025, Parton reportedly treated it as a lighthearted notion rather than a serious possibility. She joked that it would be amusing for travelers to hear an announcement that their flight was “departin’ from Nashville’s D. Parton.”

Beyond her music career, Parton’s Tennessee theme park, Dollywood, is estimated to generate roughly $1.8 billion for the state’s economy each year, a figure cited as part of her broader economic and cultural footprint in Tennessee.

More Info

• Board votes to rename Nashville International Airport for Dolly Parton | nbcnews.com
• Board votes to rename Nashville Airport after Dolly Parton | johnsoncitypress.com
• Board votes to rename Nashville Airport after Dolly Parton | timesnews.net
• Nashville International Airport Will Be Renamed in Honor of Dolly Parton After Unanimous Approval | mymodernmet.com
• Nashville airport to be renamed in honor of Dolly Parton | wqad.com
• Nashville Airport Renamed for Dolly Parton | chosun.com
• Nashville International Airport to be renamed in honour of country star | wanderlustmagazine.com
• FOLLOW-UP: Nashville Airport Board Votes Unanimously To Change Name In Honor Of Dolly Parton | doyouremember.com