by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:20 AM ET, Sat August 29, 2026
Following the recent death of entertainment legend Dolly Parton, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Nashville International Airport (BNA) have announced a plan to rename the airport after the Tennessee native.
The proposal for renaming will be discussed at the Metro Nashville Airport Authority’s meeting on Thursday, September 17.
“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,” said Doug Kreulen, president and CEO, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. “Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life. She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status.
“At BNA, we share that commitment. 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,” continued Kreulen. “That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world.”
The proposal seems likely to gain strong support from residents and travelers alike. In the days following Dolly Parton’s death on August 25, a petition to rename the airport after the icon already circulated online, and BNA lit up its facade in pink to honor her passing.
Sites around Nashville, including at her star at the Country Music Hall of Fame, became temporary shrines dedicated to her, where residents and travelers placed flowers, photographs and kind messages.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” said Gov. Lee. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. 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.”
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