gg2
Nashville airport renamed Dolly Parton
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee proposed renaming Nashville International Airport for Dolly Parton after her death. The airport authority will discuss the change on Sept. 17.
Background
Dolly Parton, the country music icon, died on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Following her death, a Change.org petition to rename Nashville International Airport in her honor surged, gathering nearly 160,000 signatures by Friday. Governor Lee announced the proposal on Friday, and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is set to discuss it at a meeting on Sept. 17.
How it unfolded
- Jan 2025A Change.org petition to rename Nashville International Airport for Dolly Parton was launched, initially as an alternative to a proposal to name it after President Donald Trump.
- Aug 25, 2026Dolly Parton died of cancer at age 80, prompting a surge in petition signatures.
- Aug 26, 2026The petition had about 80,000 signatures, with 30,000 added after her death.
- Aug 28, 2026Gov. Bill Lee proposed renaming the airport for Parton; the airport authority CEO and Nashville mayor expressed support. A plane towed a banner promoting the petition.
- Sep 17, 2026The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is scheduled to discuss the renaming proposal.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Gov. Bill Lee said it is fitting for the airport to bear the name of 'our state's favorite daughter' and greet travelers with Dolly's legacy.
- Support
- Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell called the renaming a 'love letter to Dolly,' and airport CEO Doug Kreulen praised her 'remarkable legacy.'
- Caution
- The airport authority's current policy requires a person to be dead for at least two years before naming property, so the change could not happen before 2028.