Nashville Wants a Dolly Parton Airport. A Decades-Old Naming Rule Stands in the Way
City leaders and state officials are united over the name change. A petition to do just that has already garnered more than 170,000 signatures. However, one hurdle stands in the way.
Nashville city leaders and Tennessee state officials, typically at odds over policy issues, are coming together on a common goal: renaming the Nashville International Airport to honor Dolly Parton.
On Friday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced his approval of renaming the airport for the beloved country music icon. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell issued a similar endorsement.
Parton’s team is touched by the idea
Parton’s team is “touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation,” Lee’s administration said in a press release. “Her team believes she still has a special way of bringing people together for good, and they hope this tribute can be another example of that enduring legacy.”
Parton was born in Sevier County, part of East Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain region, and built her music career in Nashville. She has long been a household name statewide, celebrated for her remarkable singing and songwriting, her Dollywood theme park, her philanthropy, and her emphasis on love and kindness.
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Beyond Tennessee, Parton had the rare ability to bridge political divides and build a fanbase comprised of both right and left devotees. A Dolly Parton airport would be one more example of that, as the city’s leaders and state politicians have fought over the transportation hub for years.
A plane with a banner advertising support
A plane with a banner advertising support for a Nashville airport named for Parton flew over the Tennessee Capitol Friday morning, The Tennessean reported. The plane was paid for by Change.org and the banner urged people to sign a petition on the matter. The petition was created in 2025 by Tennesseans Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion. As of Monday afternoon, it has garnered more than 170,000 signatures.
Nashville Councilman Russ Bradford sponsored a resolution asking for the renaming of the airport, he wrote on the petition, acknowledging it was up to the airport authority to change the name.
Source: www.inc.com
