Nashville International Airport is moving closer to carrying Dolly Parton’s name after airport officials approved the first formal step in the renaming process. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted unanimously on September 11 to begin work on the change, honoring the Tennessee native’s impact on music, culture and philanthropy.
The 6-0 board vote follows a proposal backed by Tennessee leaders and growing public support after Parton’s death on August 25 at age 80. Officials have stressed that the airport’s final name has not yet been decided, and additional planning will be needed before the change becomes official.
Parton spent more than six decades building a career closely tied to Tennessee and Nashville. Beyond country music, she became widely known for charitable projects including her Imagination Library, which provides books to children.
The airport is expected to keep its familiar BNA code. Officials will continue working with the appropriate parties to determine how Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated into the airport’s identity.