Tennessee plans to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of the late country music legend Dolly Parton, as per an announcement made on Friday following her passing at the age of 80. The decision follows a social media initiative by fans advocating for the airport to be named after Parton posthumously. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee engaged in discussions with Parton’s team regarding this proposal earlier this week, according to statements released by the airport and Lee’s office.
Governor Lee highlighted Parton’s significant impact on Tennessee, stating that her remarkable life is deeply intertwined with the state’s fabric. He emphasized the appropriateness of naming Nashville International Airport after Parton, as it would symbolize the state’s warm welcome to the world, embodying the enduring legacy of her music, generosity, faith, and kindness.
The proposal to rename the airport will be evaluated at a meeting on September 17, addressing the current Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s naming policy, which currently prohibits naming properties after individuals who have not been deceased for at least two years, as reported by The New York Times. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is supporting this initiative, with Commissioner Mark Ezell praising Parton as a key figure in promoting Tennessee tourism globally.
Dolly Parton, born on January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, and raised in a humble one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, started her music career at a young age. Parton’s iconic songs, such as “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You,” have solidified her status as one of the best-selling female artists in history, with over 100 million records sold. Throughout her career, she amassed 11 Grammy Awards, including a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.