Tennessee gov. backs proposal to rename Nashville Airport after Dolly Parton
Bill Lee supports a proposal to honour Dolly Parton (Getty Images)
Nashville’s International Airport could soon bear the name of one of Tennessee’s most beloved daughters.
Three days after Dolly Parton died at the age of 80 on 25 August, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that he supports a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport in honour of the legendary country singer.
Lee said in a statement that he and airport officials wanted to create “a lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired”. He also revealed that he had previously discussed the idea with Parton and her team, who he said were “touched by the idea”.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said, adding that the airport is where Tennessee “welcomes the world”.
Under the proposal, the airport could become Dolly Parton International Airport, a fitting tribute to an artist whose career made Tennessee, and Nashville in particular, synonymous with country music around the world.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is scheduled to consider the proposal at a 17 September meeting.
Doug Kreulen, the airport authority’s president, said the airport shared Parton’s belief that “dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status”.
‘Everybody is looking for a way to honour Dolly and her legacy’
The proposal has already attracted significant public support. A petition calling for the name change has gathered more than 150,000 signatures, while a plane pulling a banner urging the change flew over the Tennessee State Capitol on Friday.
“Everybody is looking for a way to honour Dolly and her legacy,” petition organiser Dan Dion told The Tennessean. “There’s symbolism in flying into Parton Airport.”
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has also backed the proposal, suggesting it could be part of a broader effort to honour Parton throughout the city.
Parton had been developing a hotel and museum called SongTeller in Nashville, which she described as a “love letter to Nashville.” Following her death, O’Connell said, “Now it’s our turn to share a love letter to Dolly.”
Parton was laid to rest privately on Friday (28 August) beside her husband, Carl Dean, at Nashville’s Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum. She had requested a private funeral for her immediate family, with no public memorial planned.
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