By admin 
When she was alive, the notion that the gateway to Music City would one day bear her name was something Dolly Parton often laughed off with her signature self-deprecating wit, dismissing such proposals as little more than a lighthearted joke. However, following the passing of the global icon, songwriter, and tireless philanthropist on August 25 at the age of 80, what was once a whimsical fan campaign has transformed into a swift and serious legislative movement. The call to rename Nashville International Airport (BNA) in her honor is currently gathering momentum at record speed, reflecting a rare moment of near-total unity in a city and state that Parton spent her entire life championing.
On August 28, just three days after the world mourned the loss of the "Smoky Mountain Songbird," the Tennessee Governor’s office, in coordination with the leadership of Nashville International Airport, issued a formal statement announcing their joint intent to rename the facility. The proposal seeks to transform BNA into a living monument to a woman whose influence stretched far beyond the borders of country music. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee emphasized the symbolic weight of the airport as the primary point of entry for millions of visitors each year, noting that there is perhaps no better representative of the state’s values than Parton.
"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," Governor Lee said in his official statement. He framed the renaming not just as a tribute to a celebrity, but as a strategic alignment of the state’s brand with the virtues Parton embodied: hard work, inclusivity, and a spirit of hospitality.
The administrative weight behind the proposal is substantial. Doug Kreulen, the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA), which owns and operates BNA, underscored the airport’s role as the "front door to Music City." According to Kreulen, the airport carries a heavy responsibility to reflect the very best of the local community. By adopting Parton’s name, the airport would be identifying itself with a figure who is globally synonymous with Nashville’s cultural exports. Mark Ezell, the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, echoed these sentiments, noting that Parton "carried Tennessee to the world" throughout her seven-decade career. He argued that it is only logical for the airport—the site where so many Tennessee journeys begin and end—to carry the name of the woman who served as the state’s greatest ambassador.
The political path toward this change appears remarkably smooth. On September 1, Nashville’s Metro Council threw its unanimous support behind the renaming initiative, a rare feat in local government. This legislative backing provides the necessary momentum for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to take the next formal steps. During its scheduled meeting on September 17, the Authority will begin a comprehensive evaluation of its current Naming Policy alongside the governor’s specific proposal. This process will involve assessing the logistical, legal, and branding implications of the transition, though experts suggest that given the overwhelming public and political support, the approval is largely seen as a formality.
While the current push is a direct response to Parton’s passing, the movement to put her name on the airport did not emerge in a vacuum. It was fueled by a grassroots campaign that began years earlier. In January 2025, long-time fans Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion launched a Change.org petition that gained national attention. They described Parton as a "national treasure" and a Tennessee legend, arguing that her contributions to society outweighed those of the military figures and politicians typically honored with such landmarks.
The petition highlighted Parton’s multifaceted legacy, focusing heavily on her philanthropic work. While she is world-renowned for hits like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," her impact on literacy and healthcare is equally profound. Her Imagination Library program, founded in 1995 as a local effort in her native Sevier County, has grown into a global powerhouse. By 2025, the program was mailing more than 3 million books to children worldwide every single month, aimed at fostering a love of reading regardless of a family’s income. Additionally, Parton’s $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center was credited with playing a pivotal role in the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, a fact that further cemented her status as a humanitarian leader.
The petition organizers also leaned into the humor that Parton herself appreciated. One of the central slogans of the campaign was the pun: "We could all be Departin’ from Parton." This clever play on words helped the petition go viral, and as of September 4, it had amassed more than 175,000 verified signatures. The sheer volume of support proved to state officials that the renaming was not just a niche interest, but a popular mandate.
Parton’s own reaction to the idea during her final year of life was characteristically humble. In late January 2025, during an interview with The Tennessean, she admitted she found the prospect amusing. "I think it’s probably more of a joke than anything," she told the publication. She noted that while it sounded like "a lot of fun" to hear an intercom announcement stating a flight was "departin’ from Nashville’s D. Parton," she found it difficult to imagine such a grand gesture becoming "an actual thing." Her skepticism was rooted in a lifelong habit of declining honors that she felt were too self-aggrandizing; she had famously asked the Tennessee legislature to withdraw a bill to erect a statue of her at the State Capitol in 2021, stating that she didn’t feel she belonged on a pedestal yet.
The airport itself has a history that reflects the growth of Nashville. Established in 1937, it was originally named Berry Field Nashville to honor Colonel Harry S. Berry, the first airport administrator. This history is preserved in the airport’s IATA code, BNA, which stands for Berry Field Nashville. It wasn’t until 1988 that the facility was renamed Nashville International Airport to reflect its expanding global reach. In recent years, BNA has undergone a multi-billion-dollar expansion, adding a massive new grand lobby, international arrivals facility, and a Hilton hotel on-site. The airport is famous for its live music stages located throughout the terminals, a post-security cocktails-to-go program that allows travelers to enjoy the city’s famous nightlife culture before they board, and a guest pass program that lets non-ticketed locals visit the shops and restaurants.
Renaming the airport for Parton would place her in an elite group of Americans honored with major aviation hubs. Currently, there are 13 airports in the United States named after presidents, including John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and George Bush Intercontinental (IAH). However, the trend of naming airports after cultural icons and activists has grown in recent decades. In 1979, California’s Orange County Airport was renamed John Wayne Airport (SNA) to honor the legendary actor and local resident. In 2000, Sonoma County Airport became the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), complete with a logo featuring Snoopy.
In 2001, New Orleans renamed its airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) to celebrate the 100th birthday of the jazz pioneer. More recently, in 2019, Louisville International (SDF) was renamed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport to honor the "Greatest of All Time," a boxing champion and civil rights activist born in the city. The Parton proposal follows this tradition of honoring individuals who define the spirit of their hometowns.
The process of renaming an airport is often fraught with political tension. For instance, a bill to rename Nashville International Airport after Donald Trump was previously voted down by a bipartisan vote in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Conversely, in Florida, Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) officially transitioned to President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT) in August 2026. Similarly, a high-profile campaign to rename Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) after the beloved children’s entertainer Fred Rogers failed to gain enough traction to move forward. The fact that Parton’s renaming has bypassed such controversy speaks to her unique position as a unifying figure in a politically polarized era.
For travelers and fans, the renaming is the ultimate tribute to a woman who built an empire from nothing. While visitors can already immerse themselves in her world by visiting the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, staying at the DreamMore Resort, or booking a night in her retired "Suite 1986" tour bus, the airport renaming serves as a different kind of legacy. It marks her as the literal gateway to the South.
As the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority prepares for its September 17 meeting, the logistical reality of the change is coming into focus. This will likely involve a massive rebranding effort, from signage and digital displays to updated aeronautical charts. While the "BNA" code is expected to remain—much like "MSY" remained for New Orleans—the visual and cultural identity of the airport will shift entirely. For the millions of people who fly into Nashville every year, the change will serve as a constant reminder of a woman who proved that a "girl from the mountains" could change the world through a song and a kind heart. When the first flights eventually take off from the newly christened Dolly Parton International, travelers will finally be able to say, with a smile, that they are officially "departin’ from Parton."
