NASHVILLE — Governor Bill Lee announced Friday his intent to rename Nashville International Airport (BNA) in honor of Dolly Parton, joining a wave of public support for a lasting tribute to the music icon.
Lee’s office said he has been in talks with Parton’s team about the proposal, and that they’ve expressed appreciation for the outpouring of support and are open to continuing the conversation.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement, calling it fitting that an airport welcoming the world to Tennessee would carry the name of “our state’s favorite daughter.”
Born in Sevier County, Parton became a global icon whose influence stretched far beyond music through decades of philanthropy, including the Imagination Library, which has distributed hundreds of millions of free books to children worldwide.
Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, echoed the sentiment, saying BNA — as “the front door to Music City” — has a responsibility to reflect the best of the community, and that Parton’s legacy of welcoming people “from every walk of life” aligns with that mission.
The proposal comes amid a rapidly growing Change.org petition — originally launched in January 2025 but reignited this week — that has drawn tens of thousands of signatures calling for the name change.
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority’s board is expected to formally address the proposal, along with the airport’s existing naming policy, at its meeting on Thursday, September 17. Officials said more details will be released in the coming weeks.
