Tennessee is planning to change the name of Nashville International Airport to honor the legendary country music icon Dolly Parton, following her recent passing at the age of 80 in the heart of country music, Nashville. The decision stems from a social media campaign initiated by fans to pay tribute to Parton posthumously. Governor Bill Lee engaged with Parton’s team to discuss this proposal, emphasizing Parton’s profound impact on the state.
Governor Lee expressed, “Dolly Parton’s remarkable life is deeply ingrained in the essence of our state. It is fitting that Nashville International Airport, as a gateway where Tennessee embraces the world, should bear the name of our state’s beloved daughter, embodying Dolly’s enduring legacy of music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
A meeting scheduled for September 17 will address the proposal to rename the airport, considering the current Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s naming policy, which traditionally requires a two-year waiting period posthumously before naming any property after an individual. Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development is in full support of this renaming, acknowledging Parton as a significant figure in promoting Tennessee and its culture to millions of travelers worldwide.
Mark Ezell, the commissioner of Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development, stated, “Dolly Parton has played a pivotal role as a prominent figure in Tennessee tourism and as a leading ambassador for our state. Her influence has introduced countless visitors to the essence of Tennessee before even setting foot here. Renaming the airport in her honor would be a fitting tribute to the countless journeys that begin in Tennessee.”
Dolly Parton, born on January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tenn., and raised in a humble one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, began her music career at a young age by performing on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville at just 13 years old. Over the years, she solidified herself as one of the top-selling female artists in history, with over 100 million records sold and iconic hits like “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You.” Parton’s illustrious career spanned nearly six decades, earning her 11 Grammy Awards, including a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
