{
  "id": 4224277,
  "title": "Plan To Rename Nashville Airport After Dolly Parton Moves Forward",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/plan-to-rename-nashville-airport-after-dolly-parton-moves-forward",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-29T15:45:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Stereogum",
    "slug": "stereogum",
    "url": "https://stereogum.com/2509773/plan-to-rename-nashville-airport-after-dolly-parton-moves-forward/news/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dolly Parton's beloved name is set to grace Nashville's airport following her passing. Since January, supporters have been advocating for the renaming of Tennessee's Nashville International Airport in honor of the iconic singer, who hails from Tennessee. The momentum for this change has surged since her death on Tuesday, August 25th. On Friday, August 28th, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport (BNA) confirmed their decision to rename the facility in Parton's memory.\n\nGovernor Lee expressed his sentiment, stating, \"Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state.\" He added, \"At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness.\"\n\nNashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell echoed the sentiment in a social media post. He said, \"Dolly was in the process of working with us on a remarkable hotel and museum — SongTeller — that she called 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.\"\n\nThe proposal will be deliberated at the Metro Nashville Airport Authority's meeting on September 17th.",
  "summary": "Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport have announced their intention to rename the airport after Dolly Parton. The proposal comes after a campaign by fans to honor the American icon, who was born in Tennessee and died on August 25 at the age of 80.\n\nAccording to Governor Lee, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of \"our state's favorite daughter\". The renaming aims to create a \"lasting tribute to her indelible legacy\", as Parton inspired generations of people in Tennessee and around the world.\n\nParton was born in 1946 and moved to Nashville in 1964 to begin her career as a songwriter and musician. She went on to become one of the best-known figures in country music. The renaming of the airport would serve as a tribute to her legacy, with Governor Lee stating that it is fitting for the airport, a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, to bear Dolly Parton's name.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Tennessee governor backs renaming Nashville airport Dolly Parton International in lasting tribute",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/tennessee-governor-backs-renaming-nashville-airport-dolly-parton",
        "published": "2026-08-29T07:08:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}