Nashville Airport Renaming for Dolly Parton Moves Forward

The first step toward Nashville International Airport being renamed in honor of Dolly Parton was taken on Friday, when the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority unanimously voted to begin the process.

According to local NBC affiliate WSMV, the authority said it had not determined a final name and that it will “work with appropriate parties to decide how Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.” More specific plans are expected to come in the near future.

For now, the resolution can only move forward if the airport authority makes an exception to its current policy, which states that properties can only be renamed after people who have been dead for at least two years. It is also worth noting that State Rep. Todd Warner has said he plans to introduce legislation to rename the airport.

The vote took place after a fan-led petition that was launched before Parton’s passing in late August regained traction and collected more than 175,000 signatures. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has expressed his support for the renaming alongside Mayor Freddie O’Connell and the Metro City Council.

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement. “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.”

O’Connell added, “Dolly was in the process of working with us on a remarkable hotel and museum — SongTeller — that she called her love letter to Nashville. Now it’s our turn to share a love letter to Dolly — by renaming Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport in Nashville.”

The renaming would make Nashville International Airport the first international commercial airport in the United States to be named after a woman.

Earlier this week, Parton continued her musical legacy with her first posthumous release, “Bound to Ride,” backed by The First Ladies of Bluegrass: Alison Brown (banjo), Becky Buller (fiddle), Sierra Hull (mandolin), Missy Raines (bass), and Molly Tuttle (guitar). Recorded in 2022, the song is her take on the traditional bluegrass tune and will appear on the upcoming all-star tribute album Where the Soul Never Dies: Celebrating 80 Years of The Stanley Brothers. Stream it below.

Out October 16th, the project also features contributions from Willie Nelson and Sierra Ferrell, Billy Strings and Drew Emmitt, I’m With Her, Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell, Dierks Bentley and Della Mae, and Steve Martin and Ed Helms. Pre-save and pre-order the album here.

Parton died in Nashville on August 25th at the age of 80 following a private battle with cancer.