Tennessee moves to rename Nashville airport for Dolly Parton days after beloved icon's death

Tennessee Gov.

Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announced Friday that they intend to name the airport in honor of Dolly Parton , moving toward a major tribute to the icon after an outpouring of public support for the beloved late country music legend's legacy.

Lee said he spoke with Parton's team about the proposal this week.

Her team expressed appreciation for the support and is open to continuing the conversation, according to a joint announcement from the governor and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority .

The proposal would place Parton's name on the gateway to Music City , connecting the transportation hub with a woman whose music , philanthropy and deeply rooted connection to her home state made her perhaps its most celebrated figure.

TRUMP MOURNS DOLLY PARTON, ORDERS US FLAGS LOWERED NATIONWIDE AFTER COUNTRY MUSIC ICON DIES "Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state," said Lee about the Tennessee native , who died Tuesday at 80 after a brief cancer battle.

"From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her.

"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 and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness." The announcement comes amid a groundswell of support for renaming the airport after Parton.

A Change.org petition titled "Rename Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport" had accumulated 155,501 verified signatures, according to the petition page .

DOLLY PARTON DEFIED COUNTRY MUSIC'S EXPECTATIONS FOR WOMEN AND BUILT A CAREER ON HER OWN TERMS: EXPERTS The petition was originally launched in January 2025 by Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion, who argued that Parton's influence extended far beyond the music that made her famous, pointing to her philanthropy and her Imagination Library literacy program .

Following Parton's death this week, the organizers said tens of thousands of additional supporters signed the petition and renewed their effort to have Nashville's airport carry her name.

The campaign has also drawn support from Tennessee officials.

State Rep.

Todd Warner said in a response published on the petition page that he would introduce legislation supporting the change.