Nashville International Airport is set to be renamed after Dolly Parton, giving the country music legend one of the biggest posthumous honors in her home state. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board of commissioners voted unanimously, 6-0, to begin the process of renaming the airport after Parton, who died on August 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with an undisclosed cancer.
Though a final name has not yet been chosen, the move is already history-making. Once finalized, Parton would become the first woman to have her name attached to one of the 50 busiest airports in the United States.
The decision follows a petition started by fan Lydia Popovich, which collected more than 175,000 signatures in the weeks after Parton's death.
The airport authority released a statement announcing the vote, saying: 'While a final name has not yet been determined, we are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton's name and legacy will be incorporated.' The board described the vote as 'the first step in a multifaceted process' and said it expects to share more detailed plans in the coming months.
To move forward, the authority also had to modify its existing naming policy, which generally requires that airport properties be named only after individuals who have been deceased for at least two years. The final name will ultimately be decided by airport leaders together with the Dollywood Foundation, the nonprofit organization Parton established in 1988.
Parton Once Rejected a Statue in Her Honor
Parton had famously resisted efforts to honor her by name while she was alive. Back in 2021, she had to push back against a petitioned bill to erect a monument of her in Tennessee.
Former state representative John Mark Windle introduced legislation in January 2021 to design a statue of the singer after more than 25,000 people signed a petition calling for a Confederate statue to be replaced with her likeness.
Though 'humbled' by the offer, Parton spoke out on social media weeks later, in February 2021, asking that the idea be withdrawn from 'any and all consideration.'
'I want to thank Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds. I am honored and humbled by their intention but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration.'
'Given all that is going on in the world, I don't think it's appropriate at this time. I hope, though, that somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I'm gone if you still feel I deserve it, then I'm certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean. In the meantime, I'll continue to try to do good work to make this great state proud.'
Sister Says No One Has Offered Condolences
The renaming news comes days after Parton's sister, Stella Parton, said no one in Nashville had offered her condolences in the weeks since the country icon's death.
Stella, 77, told Gayle King in a wide-ranging CBS Mornings interview shared on Thursday that Tennessee's music community had gone silent as she mourned her sister.
'I haven't heard from anybody in Nashville since my sister passed away. I haven't had one condolence from anyone, anybody that I know, entertainers that I know. Nobody. Not one.'
She speculated the silence might be tied to politics, saying: 'I'm assuming it might be because of my political, you know, activism on social media. I don't know.'
Dolly, by contrast, was famously guarded about her political views. But Stella said her sister still had opinions, though she 'would never have offended anyone.' She explained: 'She never would have done that. She was smarter than me. You know, I tell everything. And I like everybody knowing what I think about it. Not her!' Stella added that her sister was simply 'a good businesswoman.'
Health Decline and Death
Parton's death shocked the world and came after months of health troubles that had seen her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling concern among fans. Those close to the singer said she had grown increasingly reclusive and secretive about her health in recent months.
On August 25, Parton's representatives revealed in a statement to People that she had died following a 'brief battle with cancer,' though they did not disclose which type. Her death was first confirmed that day in an Instagram video posted by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security.
According to TMZ, she died four days after being hospitalized on August 21 at Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems.
Tributes Pour In
Fellow stars paid tribute following the news, including Hillary Clinton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Khloe Kardashian. President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Parton and ordered American flags lowered nationwide for one week in her honor.
Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned six decades, with hits including 'Jolene,' '9 to 5' and 'I Will Always Love You.'
