{
  "id": 6871512,
  "title": "Nashville Airport Moves to Rename Itself After Dolly Parton in Unanimous Vote",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/nashville-airport-moves-to-rename-itself-after-dolly-parton-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-12T06:03:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/country/dolly-parton-nashville-airport-1236338913/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board voted 6-0 to begin renaming Nashville International in honor of the late country icon.",
  "key_points": [
    "Nashville Airport to rename itself after Dolly Parton unanimously.",
    "Decision initiated on September 11th, final to be made jointly.",
    "Parton’s Dollywood Foundation established in 1988 to fund literacy."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The renaming of Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton cements the country star's legacy in her home state, reflecting her impact on music and philanthropy.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The A.V. Club",
        "title": "Nashville International Airport changing its name to honor Dolly Parton",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/nashville-international-airport-changing-its-name-to-honor-dolly",
        "published": "2026-09-12T17:01:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}