NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Diya TV) — The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board voted unanimously Friday to begin the process of renaming Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton.
The board voted 6-0 to direct airport officials to move forward with the process. A final name has not been selected, and the airport authority said additional details will be announced as plans are developed.
Airport officials said the process could take a year or longer and will involve discussions with Parton’s estate. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and a separate city-controlled airport authority also support renaming the airport for Parton.
Parton died Aug. 25 in Nashville at age 80 after battling cancer. Her family confirmed her death in a statement on her official website.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announced their support for renaming the airport three days after her death. Lee said he had spoken with Parton’s team, which was open to further discussions about the proposal.
An online petition started in 2025 seeking the name “Dolly Parton International Airport” has collected more than 175,000 signatures.
The airport’s three-letter code, BNA, is not part of the current renaming proposal. The code dates to the airport’s original name, Berry Field Nashville.
Parton was born in Sevier County, Tennessee, in 1946 and became one of country music’s best-known performers and songwriters. She was also the founder of the Imagination Library, which distributes free books to children.
