Nashville International Airport could soon bear the name of one of Tennessee’s most beloved icons, with officials backing a proposal to rename it in honour of Dolly Parton.
Just days after Parton died at the age of 80, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that he and airport officials support creating a permanent tribute to the country music legend.
Under the proposal, Nashville International Airport could become Dolly Parton International Airport.
A Lasting Tribute To Dolly
Lee said Parton’s life and legacy were deeply woven into Tennessee’s identity, making the airport a fitting place to honour her.
He said the idea had previously been discussed with Parton and her team, who were touched by the proposal.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority will consider the name change at its meeting on 17 September.
Airport president and CEO Doug Kreulen said Parton represented values including kindness, dignity and opportunity, qualities he believes reflect the spirit Nashville wants to show visitors arriving in the city.
Huge Public Support
The proposal has already attracted considerable public backing, with more than 150,000 people signing a petition calling for the airport to be renamed.
A plane carrying a banner supporting the campaign was also flown over the Tennessee State Capitol.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has backed the idea and suggested the airport could be one of several permanent tributes to Parton across the city.
Parton had also been developing SongTeller, a planned Nashville hotel and museum she described as a “love letter to Nashville”.
Following her death, O’Connell said it was now Nashville’s turn to return that love.
An LGBTQ+ Icon As Well As A Country Legend
Parton’s legacy extends far beyond country music.
Across her career, she became a much-loved figure within LGBTQ+ communities, known for her camp glamour, drag-inspired aesthetic and consistent messages of acceptance.
She publicly supported marriage equality, spoke warmly about her LGBTQ+ fans and repeatedly argued that people should be free to live as themselves.
That relationship helped make her not just a Tennessee icon, but a queer cultural favourite around the world.
Dolly Laid To Rest In Nashville
Parton was laid to rest in a private ceremony on 28 August at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville.
She was buried beside her husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean, who died in 2025.
Her family had requested a small private service and encouraged fans to honour her through donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Whether Nashville International Airport officially becomes Dolly Parton International Airport will now depend on the airport authority’s decision in September.
Given Parton’s extraordinary connection to Tennessee, however, the proposal already feels like one of the most natural tributes imaginable.
