Tennessee has announced plans to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of the late country music legend Dolly Parton, following her recent passing at the age of 80 in the heart of country music, Nashville. The decision stems from a social media campaign by fans pushing to rename the airport to pay tribute to Parton after her death. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee engaged with Parton’s team to discuss this initiative, highlighting Parton’s significant impact on the state.
Governor Lee expressed, “Dolly Parton’s remarkable life is deeply intertwined with our state’s identity. It is fitting that Nashville International Airport, where Tennessee embraces visitors from around the world, would bear the name of our beloved state icon, embodying the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
The proposal to rename the airport will be reviewed alongside the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s current naming policy during a meeting on September 17. The existing policy prohibits naming properties after individuals who have passed away for less than two years, as reported by The New York Times. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is in full support of this renaming endeavor.
Mark Ezell, the commissioner of the Department of Tourist Development, stated, “Dolly Parton has been an outstanding figure in Tennessee tourism, serving as our unofficial first lady and greatest ambassador. Even before setting foot in our state, millions of travelers have experienced our music, mountains, and hospitality through her. The airport, where countless Tennessee journeys commence, couldn’t have a better name.”
Dolly Parton, born on January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, and raised in a humble one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, began her music career early. She started performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville at the age of 13, and following her high school graduation, she relocated to Nashville to pursue her music aspirations. With timeless hits like “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You,” Parton became one of the top-selling female artists globally, selling over 100 million records. Throughout her nearly six-decade-long career, she earned 11 Grammy Awards, including a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
