Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80, following a brief battle with cancer. She has been honored in many ways, from fans leaving flowers and heartfelt letters outside her Tennessee home to Southwest Airlines paying tribute by turning the cabin lights pink on flights in and out of Nashville.
Among the tributes, a 2025 Change.org petition to rename Nashville International Airport (BNA) to “Dolly Parton International Airport” has found renewed popularity. The country music icon is from Tennessee and first moved to Nashville in 1964.
As of August 28, the petition has nearly 160,000 signatures, and two lawmakers say they support the name change. Now, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the airport have co-signed the proposal and announced they intend to officially change the airport’s name to honor Parton.
Nashville International Airport Could Get A Parton-Themed Name Change
The governor and the airport announced on August 28 that they intend to name the airport in honor of the late star, “creating a lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world.”
Lee said he spoke with Parton’s team this week about the possible name change, and they said they were “touched by the idea” and open to continuing discussions regarding the proposal.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said. “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.”
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) owns and operates the airport. The agency’s president and CEO, Doug Kreulen, said in a statement that the airport is a gateway to “Music City.”
“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. That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world,” Kreulen said.
MNAA’s current naming policy and Lee’s proposal will be addressed at a meeting on September 17. Lee’s office said it will share more details in the coming weeks.
The 2025 Petition Has Received Renewed Attention Following Parton’s Death
Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion first created the petition in January 2025, identifying themselves as “proud citizens of Tennessee.”
“Dolly’s philanthropic efforts, her outstanding influence in the music industry, and the love she has instilled in our hearts through her actions and songs truly make her a deserving candidate to have the Nashville International Airport named after her,” the petition states.
Following Parton’s death, the petition was updated to memorialize the late star, referring to her as “Dreamer-in-Chief,” as did Dollywood’s tribute on its official website.
“It’s difficult to imagine a world without our Dreamer-In-Chief,” the petition states. “Since her passing, tens of thousands of additional supporters have visited and signed this petition. The outpouring of support has reinvigorated our mission — to rename the Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport.”
Before Lee and the airport announced plans to change the airport’s name, the petition received responses from other lawmakers who support the name change.
Nashville City Member of Council Russ Bradford wrote in support of the name change.
I’m proud to sponsor a resolution asking the Metro Nashville Airport Authority to consider renaming BNA to Dolly Parton International Airport,” Bradford wrote. “Renaming BNA in her honor would be a fitting tribute to someone whose generosity and hometown pride have never wavered. I want to be clear about what this resolution does and doesn’t do: it’s a statement of support from Metro Council, urging MNAA to take up the idea. The final decision on any name change rests with the Airport Authority, not with Council.”
Tennessee State Representative Todd Warner also wrote, “I will definitely introduce legislation to rename the BNA airport Dolly Parton International Airport!”
The petition provided an update, praising Warner’s support for the cause: “We are so very grateful for his support and for ALL of the support coming in.”
The proposal comes amid Southwest Airlines’ tribute to Parton for flights in and out of the Nashville airport.
Southwest Airlines Honored Parton In BNA Arrivals And Departures
On August 26, a passenger shared an image of a Southwest Airlines flight that he said departed from the airport. The plane’s cabin lights, which are typically blue on Southwest flights, were colored pink.
He also said that the plane was playing her music over the speakers.
“Just boarded my flight in Nashville and the whole @SouthwestAir plane is lit up pink, with @DollyParton playing loud on the speakers as we board,” he wrote on X.
Another traveler, Mary Beth Pearcy, shared an image on August 26, showing another of Southwest’s planes paying tribute to Parton. She said her flight was flying to Nashville and that the cabin lights were also pink.
“We may have been delayed 3 hours, but @SouthwestAir turned their lights pink for Dolly for our flight back to Nashville,” she wrote on X.
The airline confirmed its tribute.
“We hope this brought a smile to Southwest Customers in Nashville this week. It is no surprise to see the impact Dolly made and this is just one example of the world looking a little pinker this week in her honor,” Southwest Airlines said in a statement to TheTravel.
From an airline to an airport to her millions of fans, all have joined in unison to honor Parton’s impact by making the world look, as Southwest put it, a “little pinker.”
Recent Comments