Tennessee is set to change the name of Nashville International Airport to honor the late country music icon Dolly Parton, as per an announcement made on Friday following her recent passing at the age of 80 in the heart of country music, Nashville.
The decision to rename the airport came after a social media push by fans to pay tribute to Parton. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee engaged with Parton’s team regarding this initiative, as confirmed by statements from both the airport and Lee’s office.
Governor Lee expressed, “Dolly Parton’s remarkable life is deeply ingrained in our state’s history. It is only fitting that Nashville International Airport, where Tennessee embraces visitors from around the world, should carry the name of our state’s beloved figure and welcome travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
The proposal to rename the airport and the existing Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority naming policy will be discussed at a meeting on September 17. The current policy prohibits naming any property after an individual who has been deceased for less than two years, as reported by The New York Times.
Support for the renaming comes from Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development, with Commissioner Mark Ezell stating, “Dolly Parton has been an exceptional ambassador and de facto ‘first lady’ of Tennessee tourism. Even before arriving here, millions of travelers have experienced our music, landscapes, and warm hospitality through her influence. Naming the airport after her seems like the perfect tribute for the starting point of many journeys 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 career early by performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville at the age of 13. With timeless hits like “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You,” Parton became one of the top-selling female artists of all time, selling over 100 million records. She was honored with 11 Grammy Awards, including a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.