Tennessee plans to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of the late country music legend Dolly Parton, following her recent passing at the age of 80 in the heart of country music, Nashville. The decision stemmed from a social media campaign by fans advocating for the airport to bear Parton’s name. Governor Bill Lee engaged with Parton’s team regarding this change. Lee expressed that Parton’s remarkable life is deeply intertwined with Tennessee and that it is fitting for Nashville International Airport to carry the name of the state’s beloved figure, embodying the enduring legacy of her music, generosity, faith, and kindness.
The proposal to rename the airport will be discussed at a meeting on September 17, considering the current Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s naming policy, which traditionally requires a two-year gap posthumously before naming any property after an individual. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development supports this initiative, recognizing Parton as a significant figure in promoting tourism in the state, describing her as the state’s leading tourism ambassador.
Parton, born on January 19, 1946, in Pittman Center, Tennessee, and raised in a humble one-room cabin in nearby Locust Ridge, started her career at a young age, performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville at 13. Her iconic songs such as “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” and “I Will Always Love You” have solidified her as one of the top-selling female artists in history, selling over 100 million records. Additionally, Parton’s musical contributions garnered her 11 Grammy Awards, including a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.