Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Nashville International Airport announced a formal push to rename the facility in honor of country music legend Dolly Parton, according to statements released on August 28, 2026. Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80 following a short battle with cancer, prompting an outpouring of tributes and renewed momentum for a grassroots airport-renaming campaign that began the previous year.
“Gov. Lee spoke with Dolly’s team about the proposal this week,” Lee’s office said in a statement provided to the USA TODAY Network, noting that Parton’s representatives expressed appreciation for the support and openness to continuing discussions. The formal state backing follows months of public petitioning that initially launched in January 2025.
State Officials and Airport Authority Timeline
Governor Lee praised Parton’s cultural impact and lifelong connection to the state, stating that her legacy of music, generosity, and kindness embodies the Volunteer Spirit. According to WSMV, the Metro Nashville Airport Authority is scheduled to address current naming policies during its September 17 meeting to determine how to proceed with the proposal.
Current airport authority policy restricts facility naming to individuals who have been deceased for at least two years and who have made significant contributions to aviation or the airport authority in Middle Tennessee. The upcoming September meeting will address whether those existing parameters can be adapted to accommodate the tribute for Parton.
Origins of the Grassroots Campaign
The movement to rename Nashville International Airport after the singer began in January 2025, when petition organizer Dan Dion and comedian Lydia Popovich launched an online effort on Change.org. The campaign quickly gathered tens of thousands of signatures from supporters advocating for the change.
On the morning of August 28, 2026, a plane towing a banner that urged travelers to support the renaming buzzed over the Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville. The flight was funded by Change.org to direct onlookers to the ongoing petition. Organizers emphasized that the initiative was designed as a celebration of Parton’s unifying message rather than a political statement.
When asked about the initial proposal in January 2025 at Belmont University, Parton responded with characteristic humor, telling The Tennessean that it sounded like fun to imagine travelers hearing announcements for flights departing from “Nashville’s D. Parton.”
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