United States: Nashville Begins Process to Rename Airport in Honor of Dolly Parton

The Nashville airport authority unanimously voted on Friday, September 11, to begin the process of renaming the city’s international airport in honor of Dolly Parton. However, the future name has not yet been finalized, and several approvals are still required.

The six members of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board approved the initiation of this procedure. The agency will now work with representatives of the singer and relevant authorities to determine how her name will be incorporated into the airport’s identity.

This decision marks a first step, rather than a definitive name change. The process could take over a year and will need to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport’s current code, BNA, is expected to remain unchanged.

The initiative has the support of Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee and Nashville’s Democratic Mayor Freddie O’Connell. Earlier in September, the city council passed a resolution requesting that the infrastructure be named “Dolly Parton International Airport.” A public petition in favor of this tribute has garnered over 175,000 signatures.

Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. A prominent figure in country music, she also made significant contributions to Tennessee through her philanthropic efforts, including the Imagination Library, a program that provides free books to children.