Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) announced a proposal Friday to rename Tennessee‘s largest airport after the late Dolly Parton, the legendary singer whose death earlier this week rocked millions of fans across the United States.
The Tennessee native died in Nashville on Tuesday at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to her family. A public campaign to rename the Nashville airport materialized shortly after. As of Friday evening, a petition to name the site the “Dolly Parton International Airport” has garnered over 160,000 signatures.
On Friday, Lee and Nashville International Airport proposed renaming the airport after the iconic artist, known for hits ranging from “9 to 5” to “I Will Always Love You.” The airport said the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority will discuss renaming the site on Sept. 17.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her.”
“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,” he added.
In a press release, the governor’s office said Lee spoke with Dolly’s team about the proposal this week. Her team said they were touched by the idea and are open to continuing the conversation, according to Lee. In keeping with the way Parton lived her life, “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,” the release said.
Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority CEO Doug Kreulen said Parton’s life exemplified the values the airport seeks to nurture.
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<p> ” data-large-file=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/nashville-airport-could-be-renamed-in-honor-of-dolly-parton.webp” src=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/nashville-airport-could-be-renamed-in-honor-of-dolly-parton.webp” alt=”Flowers, notes and photos are left on Dolly Parton’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Los Angeles.” class=”wp-image-4705040″ srcset=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/nashville-airport-could-be-renamed-in-honor-of-dolly-parton.jpg 1024w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/nashville-airport-could-be-renamed-in-honor-of-dolly-parton.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/nashville-airport-could-be-renamed-in-honor-of-dolly-parton.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/nashville-airport-could-be-renamed-in-honor-of-dolly-parton.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/nashville-airport-could-be-renamed-in-honor-of-dolly-parton.jpg?resize=696,464 696w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”><figcaption class=)
Flowers, notes and photos are left on Dolly Parton’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)TROPICAL STORM DOLLY NOT NAMED AFTER COUNTRY STAR: ‘PURELY COINCIDENTAL’
“She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status. At BNA [Nashville International Airport], we share that commitment,” Kreulen wrote.
“Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care,” he continued. “That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world.”
