The Nashville airport will be renamed in honor of late music icon Dolly Parton after the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority unanimously approved the change on Friday.
The airport authority voted 6-0 to rename the airport, but said the final name will be determined at a later date. The vote comes after Parton’s death on Aug. 25 at age 80 rocked millions of fans.
“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,” the board said in a statement. “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.”
Renaming the airport after the beloved singer began after Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) announced a proposal to rename Tennessee’s largest airport after Parton following her death. Lee made the proposal after over 100,000 fans started a petition to change the name to “Dolly Parton International Airport.”
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said. “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,” he said.
The tribute would recognize a Tennessee native whose impact on the state stretched well beyond country music.
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Born and raised in Sevier County in East Tennessee, Parton maintained close ties to her home throughout her extensive career through philanthropic and economic efforts. She helped transform Dollywood into a major tourist destination and employer in the region, while using her wealth and celebrity to support education, disaster recovery, and medical research.
Additionally, Parton founded the Imagination Library in Sevier County in 1995, inspired in part by her father’s inability to read and write. The program has since grown into an international operation, mailing over 300 million free books to young children.