Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday that officials plan to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of the late country music legend Dolly Parton.
Lee said the tribute would recognize Parton’s deep connection to Tennessee and the impact she made through her music, generosity, faith and kindness.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement.
“From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her,” the Republican governor continued. “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.”
Lee also spoke with members of Parton’s team about the proposed name change this week.
Parton’s team said they were touched by the idea, according to a statement released by the state.
The proposal will be discussed at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s Sept. 17 meeting. The airport, commonly identified by its BNA code, serves as a major entry point for visitors arriving in Music City.
Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority President and CEO Doug Kreulen said renaming the airport would reflect Parton’s legacy and the welcoming spirit she represented.
“BNA is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community,” Kreulen said.
He argued that Parton’s life demonstrated the importance of treating people with dignity and kindness regardless of their background or financial status.
“Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life,” Kreulen said. “She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status.”
Kreulen said the airport seeks to apply those same principles to every traveler who passes through its facilities.
“Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care,” he said.
Kreulen called that welcoming approach a defining feature of BNA and a fitting reflection of the values Parton shared with Tennessee and people around the world.
Parton was born in Sevier County, Tennessee. She died Aug. 25 in Nashville at age 80.
News of her death prompted an outpouring of emotion, with reactions arriving from around the world.
If the airport authority approves the proposal, Nashville’s international airport would carry the name of one of Tennessee’s most celebrated daughters, welcoming travelers with a permanent tribute to Parton’s life and legacy.