Nashville International Airport is moving forward with plans to honor Dolly Parton after the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted unanimously to begin the process of changing the airport’s name. The board voted 6-0 on Sept. 11 to start the formal renaming process.
The airport authority said a final name has not yet been determined and that it is working with the appropriate parties to decide how Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated. The vote represents the first step in what officials described as a multifaceted process that is expected to continue over the coming months.
The move follows a resolution approved by the Nashville Metropolitan Council earlier in September requesting that the airport be renamed “Dolly Parton International Airport.” The council’s resolution also asked the airport authority to make an exception to its existing policy requiring an honoree to have been deceased for at least two years.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee had announced the proposal to name Nashville International Airport after Parton shortly after her death. Parton died on Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80. Her team had previously expressed appreciation for the support surrounding the proposal and remained open to discussions about the tribute.
The airport currently operates under the BNA code, which officials have indicated is expected to remain unchanged even as discussions about the name continue. The final wording of the new airport name has not been announced.
The proposed renaming follows a surge of public support, including a petition that gathered more than 175,000 signatures calling for the airport to be named after Parton. Nashville officials and Tennessee state leaders have also backed the effort.
Parton’s legacy in Tennessee extends across music, tourism and philanthropy. Through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, she supported literacy programs that have distributed millions of books to children, while her music and career helped establish her as one of the state’s most internationally recognized artists.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is expected to provide additional details on the implementation and final name as the process continues. The authority has not yet announced when the renaming would officially take effect.
