Nashville Airport to Be Renamed in Honor of Dolly Parton

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Nashville International Airport is set to be renamed in honour of late country music icon Dolly Parton after the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) voted unanimously to begin the renaming process.

The airport authority's board voted 6-0 on Friday, weeks after Parton's death at the age of 80. Officials said the final name has not yet been determined and that they are working with the relevant parties to decide how her name and legacy will be incorporated.

The decision follows an earlier proposal by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to honour Parton, who was born in the state and became one of its most internationally recognised cultural figures.

Final airport name yet to be decided

The 6-0 vote begins the formal process rather than immediately changing the airport's name.

The airport authority said it would work with appropriate parties, including Parton's representatives, to determine the final naming arrangement. The airport's existing BNA code is expected to remain unchanged.

The Nashville Metropolitan Council had separately passed a resolution requesting that the airport be renamed “Dolly Parton International Airport.” However, the authority retains the power to make the final naming decision.

A career that defined Nashville

Parton, who died on August 25, 2026, aged 80, built a career spanning music, film, television, business and philanthropy. Her death was announced by her family, which said she had died peacefully in Nashville following a brief battle with cancer.

Her catalogue included internationally recognised songs such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You.” She earned 11 Grammy Awards during her career and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Beyond music, Parton appeared in films and television and became closely associated with Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park that grew into a major regional tourism attraction.

Philanthropy strengthened her legacy

Parton's influence also extended into philanthropy, particularly children's literacy and education.

Through her Imagination Library, she supported early childhood literacy by providing books to children in multiple countries. She also contributed $1 million to Vanderbilt University in 2020 to support COVID-19 vaccine research, work that later became associated with the development of Moderna's vaccine.

Her philanthropic work became an important part of her public legacy alongside her achievements in entertainment.

Airport tribute marks a major honour

The proposed renaming would make Nashville's main airport another prominent Tennessee institution carrying Parton's name.

The airport is a major gateway to Nashville and Middle Tennessee, a region whose international identity is closely linked to music and entertainment. Officials have argued that Parton's decades of cultural and economic influence make the airport an appropriate location for a lasting tribute.

The move also comes shortly after Parton's death, despite existing rules that had previously required a waiting period before an individual could be honoured through airport naming.

The final name and implementation timeline are expected to be determined as the airport authority continues the formal process.

For Nashville, the proposed tribute would give one of Tennessee's most recognisable cultural figures a permanent presence at the gateway through which millions of visitors arrive in Music City each year.