Nashville's airport authority voted 6-0 to begin renaming Nashville International Airport for the late Dolly Parton. A final name and FAA approval are still pending.
Nashville International Airport is a step closer to carrying Dolly Parton's name, after the board that oversees it voted unanimously to begin the process of renaming the facility in honor of the late singer and Tennessee native.
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 on Sept. 11 to approve a rule change that allows the renaming, according to CBS News and USA Today. The vote came about two weeks after Parton died on Aug. 25 at age 80 following a private battle with cancer.
What the vote actually does
The decision authorizes airport President and CEO Doug Kreulen to begin work on implementing the change. It is the first formal step in a process that is expected to take time. A final name has not been chosen, and any change would still require approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
"We are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton's name and legacy will be incorporated," the airport authority said in a statement.
Kreulen told the board he had a "very productive" meeting with the Parton family on Sept. 9 and would continue to work with them on planning. He said one option under consideration is "Dolly Parton Nashville International Airport." Based on the timelines of similar airport renamings, an official ceremony could be about a year away.
A rare point of agreement
The effort has drawn support from across Tennessee's political divide. Gov. Bill Lee proposed the change, saying it would be fitting for the airport to "bear the name of our state's favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith and kindness." Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell has also backed it.
An online petition to rename the airport, launched more than a year before Parton's death, had gathered more than 175,000 signatures as of the vote. Lydia Popovich, a co-creator of the petition, spoke during the meeting's public comment period and cried as the vote was taken.
"I wanted her to know how much she meant to us," she said. "I wanted the world to know how much Tennessee loves her."
Parton herself had been skeptical. When asked about the petition on "CBS Mornings" in January 2025, she called the idea "just a joke," adding, "I'm very flattered. But it's a nice compliment, and I appreciate it. I've been blessed." A year later, in an interview with The Tennessean, she said she did not expect it to ever happen, though she enjoyed the wordplay: "Your flight is departin' from Nashville's D. Parton."
The cost of a name
The change would carry a substantial logistical price. A complete signage overhaul would be required across the airport's 4,500-acre property, along with updated merchandise for the BNA Shop, shuttle bus decals, staff uniforms, business cards, and amendments to hundreds of legal contracts, leases and government documents.
The airport's current code, BNA, stands for Berry Field Nashville, named for Col. Harry S. Berry. Airport officials said in a statement that they were "grateful for the tremendous support and enthusiasm from our community and Dolly's fans around the world."
Nashville's airport would join a small group of U.S. airports named for performers, athletes and political figures, including Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, John Wayne Airport in California, and the recently renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida.
What happens next
The airport authority said the Sept. 11 decision is the first step in a multifaceted process that will continue over the coming months. Officials said they look forward to sharing details as plans are finalized. Until then, the renaming is not final, and travelers will continue to fly out of Nashville International Airport under its existing name and code.