It was music to the ears of Dolly Parton fans everywhere: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport (BNA) announced Friday their intent to name the airport in honor of the legendary Tennessee singer, songwriter, philanthropist and entertainer.
The proposal would create a lasting tribute to Parton, whose influence reaches far beyond her music and has touched generations of people in Tennessee and around the world.
After speaking with Gov. last week, Parton’s team expressed appreciation for the extraordinary outpouring of support and said they are touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation. In keeping with the way Parton lived her life, her team believes she still has a special way of bringing people together for good, and they hope this tribute can be another example of that enduring legacy.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” said Gov. Lee in a media statement. “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.”
Born in Sevier County, Parton became a global icon whose music, creativity and unmistakable voice touched millions for six decades. But her legacy extends well beyond the stage. Through the Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, she turned her commitment to helping others into one of the world’s best-known literacy programs.
Launched in 1995 in her home county, the Imagination Library now provides free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five across five countries. The program has gifted nearly 200 million books, with more than 2 million books mailed each month.
That combination of music, generosity, kindness and hometown pride is what makes the proposed airport tribute feel especially fitting. For visitors arriving in Music City, Parton’s name would offer an unmistakable reminder of the state and the woman who helped put it on the world stage.
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority’s current Naming Policy and Gov. Lee’s proposal to rename the airport will be addressed at the authority’s meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17. More details are expected in the coming weeks.
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