Tennessee governor backs plan to name Nashville airport for Dolly Parton

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport officials announced plans Friday to rename the airport in Dolly Parton’s honor.

Lee discussed the idea this week with Parton’s team after the legendary singer, songwriter and philanthropist died at age 80, and they said they were touched by the idea and open to the form of recognition, according to a release from the governor’s office.

“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.”

Lee said he believes naming the airport in her honor would be a fitting way to welcome travelers to Nashville where her music has a strong legacy. Besides selling millions of albums and winning multiple awards, Parton established the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library to provide scholarships, provide books worldwide to young children and provide aid during tragedies such as the Gatlinburg fire and Hurricane Helene that ravaged East Tennessee areas.

Doug Kruelen, president and CEO of the airport, said in the statement he supports the proposal, calling the airport the “front door 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,” Kruelen said in the release.

The Metro Nashville Airport Authority, which is tied up in litigation over the appointment of a state-controlled board versus a Metro-appointed board, will consider the renaming at a Sept. 17 meeting.

In addition to the support from Lee and Kruelen, Republican state Rep. Todd Warner of Chapel Hill started pushing the recognition of Parton at the airport shortly after her death, as did Metro Councilmember Russ Bradford, who began circulating a petition for the change.

An airplane flew over the Capitol Friday and downtown Nashville carrying a banner urging people to sign the petition.