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The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Friday, Sept. 11, to begin the formal process of renaming Nashville International Airport in honor of the late Dolly Parton. The board voted 6-0 to direct airport President and CEO Doug Kreulen to immediately begin work on implementing the change, which would make Parton the first woman whose name adorns one of America’s 50 busiest airports.
Parton died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer. The vote came just weeks after her death and followed years of grassroots and political support for the idea.
The exact name for the airport has not yet been determined. ‘Dolly Parton Nashville International Airport’ is one option, Kreulen said during the meeting. Airport officials said the process could take a year or more before an official name change ceremony takes place.
In a statement issued after the vote, the airport authority said: ‘While a final name has not yet been determined, we are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated. This vote represents the first step in a multifaceted process. In the coming months, we anticipate having more definitive plans to share regarding the next steps and implementation.’
The airport’s existing three-letter designation, BNA, would remain unchanged. The airport was originally named Berry Field Nashville in honor of Col. Harry S. Berry, according to the airport authority.
Parton Was Skeptical of the Idea
The proposal to rename the airport had been discussed even before Parton’s death. In a January 2025 interview with The Tennessean at Belmont University, Parton said she did not expect it to ever happen.
‘I think that’s probably more of a joke than anything,’ she said. ‘I mean, it does sound like a lot of fun to say: Your flight is departin’ from Nashville’s D. Parton.’
When asked about the petition on ‘CBS Mornings’ in January 2025, Parton said she thought the idea was ‘just a joke.’ She added: ‘I’m very flattered. But it’s a nice compliment, and I appreciate it. I’ve been blessed.’
Petition and Political Support
A Change.org petition to rename the airport after Parton was launched in 2025 by Nashville residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion. Since Parton’s death, the petition has received more than 175,000 signatures.
Popovich spoke during the meeting’s public comment period and cried during the vote. ‘I wanted her to know how much she meant to us,’ Popovich said. ‘I wanted the world to know how much Tennessee loves her.’
After the vote, Popovich told The Associated Press: ‘It’s been a really beautiful experience, especially as you’re grieving someone that was such a great loss. She’s the best of Tennessee. She’s the best of the humans on the planet. She was this magical person that provided light and guidance to all of us. Unfortunately she’s left us, but now we get to celebrate her and get to tell the world how much Tennessee loved her.’
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a Republican and a Democrat respectively, have both backed the proposal.
Lee said in late August: ‘Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state. 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.’
According to O’Connell spokesman Alex Apple, the city-controlled Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is also in support of the name change. ‘The FAA’s going to get two votes from two boards, both in favor,’ Apple said.
Cost and Implementation
The renaming process is expected to involve considerable expense. A complete signage overhaul would be necessary across the entire 4,500-acre property, along with updated merchandise, shuttle bus decals, uniforms, business cards, and amendments to hundreds of legal contracts and government documents.
Airport officials have not disclosed the exact cost of the project. A 2025 assessment of a failed proposal to rename the airport estimated that a name change could cost about $10.3 million.
The airport authority modified its renaming policy, which previously stated a person must be dead for at least two years before an airport could be renamed after them. The board highlighted a section of the naming policy that grants the board authority to direct changes to the names of airport buildings, places, facilities, or spaces. The naming policy dates back to 2010 and was last updated in 2024.
The airport authority will work with the Parton family and the Dollywood Foundation to determine how Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated. Kreulen said he had a ‘very productive’ meeting with the Parton family on Sept. 9.
The name change would require approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The next steps and implementation plans are expected to be announced in the coming months.
