Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has backed a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport in honour of the late Dolly Parton, setting up a review by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. The plan would require changes to the airport’s naming policy before any formal move can proceed, with the authority due to consider the issue at its 17 September meeting.
The proposal follows a rapid surge in support after Parton’s death on Tuesday, with an online petition launched in January 2025 gaining fresh momentum. Lee described the airport as a fitting place to welcome travellers in the spirit of Parton’s music, generosity, faith and kindness. Parton’s representatives have expressed appreciation and left the door open to further discussions, but no renaming decision has been made.
The authority’s current policy limits naming honours to people who have been dead for at least two years, creating the main procedural obstacle. Any change would also carry financial implications: previous reporting put the cost of a full rebrand at more than $10 million. If approved, the move would make Parton the first woman to have her name on one of America’s 50 busiest airports.