Nashville Airport Moves to Rename Itself After Dolly Parton in Unanimous Vote
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board voted 6-0 to begin renaming Nashville International in honor of the late country icon.
Nashville International Airport is set to be renamed in honor of the late country star Dolly Parton, following a unanimous decision by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board of commissioners. The vote on September 11th initiated the process to change the airport’s name, which has yet to be determined. The final decision will be made collaboratively by airport officials and the Dollywood Foundation, a non-profit Parton established in 1988.
The airport’s current naming policy, which generally requires naming after individuals who have been deceased for at least two years, had to be adjusted for this purpose. The push for renaming began before Parton’s death, with a petition to call the airport "Dolly Parton International Airport" gaining over 175,000 signatures in early 2025.
Both Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, and Nashville’s Democratic Mayor Freddie O’Connell endorsed the change, with the city’s Metro Council endorsing the move unanimously on September 1st. Dolly Parton, a native of Tennessee and a global music icon, sold over 100 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Beyond her music, she is renowned for her philanthropic efforts, most notably through the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, which has distributed millions of books to children.
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