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More than 100,000 of the late Dolly Parton’s fans have signed a petition calling for Nashville International Airport to be renamed in her honor.
A Change.org petition originally started in January 2025 has gained renewed support amid the announcement of the country music icon’s death at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer on Tuesday, August 25.
“Since her passing, tens of thousands of additional supporters have visited and signed this petition,” petition organizers Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion wrote on Tuesday. “The outpouring of support has reinvigorated our mission — to rename the Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport. A key decision maker, has responded to this petition; Tennessee State Senator Todd Warner has pledged to introduce legislation to make this change happen. We are so very grateful for his support and for ALL of the support coming in.”
Their statement concluded, “Dolly deserves to be remembered and celebrated. What a wonderful way to share her light and magic across Tennessee and the world.”
As mentioned, Tennessee state Rep. Warner promised in the comments section of the petition that he would “definitely introduce legislation to rename the BNA airport Dolly Parton International Airport.”
The renaming of Nashville International Airport also has the backing of City Councillor Russ Bradford, who acknowledged that “few have done more to define what this city means to the rest of the world” than Parton.
“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 [Metro Nashville Airport Authority] to take up the idea,” Bradford clarified. “The final decision on any name change rests with the Airport Authority, not with Council. I hope that this resolution sends a strong signal of how much our community would welcome this change, and that MNAA will give it serious consideration.”
As of publication, the petition has gained more than 117,000 supporters — many of whom penned impassioned pleas backing the concept of Dolly Parton International Airport.
“Tennessee should definitely change the airport name to memorialize Dolly Parton for everything that she has done,” one commenter wrote.
Another added, “Dolly Parton has paved a way for so many artists and especially women! She made a lot of contributions to the music industry and gave back with the blessings she had. The airport should be renamed in her honor without a doubt!”
Tennessee House Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary confirmed to local Nashville station WKRN on Wednesday, August 26, that lawmakers are working on a way to honor Parton once their legislative session begins in January 2027. (Zachary did not directly comment on the petition to rename Nashville International Airport.)
“Last night we already began to have those discussions again. How do you honor someone that is so worthy and beyond anything of a statue, a bust? Anything that we could do, she’s so beyond that,” he said. “Somebody like Dolly, I don’t know how you honor her well enough to really meet what she actually did during her life, but we’re going to do our best to do that.”
Republicans and Democrats in the Tennessee House of Representatives plan to work together on a plan to celebrate Parton’s life since she “was not a divisive figure,” per Rep. John Ray Clemmons.
“I think we’ll all get together, work with my colleagues across the aisle, and figure out what’s best,” Clemmons vowed. “Of course, we’ll consult with her family and friends and decide what’s the most appropriate way, or what they feel is the most appropriate way to honor her.”
Tennessee currently has a lasting monument to Parton’s life and legacy with the Dollywood theme park, which she opened in 1983 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Parton created the park as a way to attract tourism to the Smoky Mountains, where she grew up.
In the wake of her death on Tuesday, Dollywood executives confirmed that they would keep the park open as a testament to Parton’s legacy.
“In her spirit, Dollywood will be open Wednesday as Dolly wanted, always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle — ‘the show must go on,’” a statement from Dollywood read. “Together, we honor her by carrying forward her message of love, perseverance, and hope. Those wishing to give in honor of Dolly may consider making a gift to the organization she was so deeply passionate about, Dolly Parton’s @imaginationlibrary.”
Dollywood president Eugene Naughton also pledged that the park will continue to live up to the high standards of its late “Dreamer-in-Chief.”
“A lot of people are concerned that things are going to change without Dolly being present here,” he said in an Instagram video on Tuesday. “I want to assure you, it’s not. Just know we’re all going to keep her alive here. It’s hard, right?”
The executive fought back tears as he addressed the future of Dollywood, saying, “[We plan to] show kindness, don’t be afraid to love big, don’t be afraid to dream big, don’t be afraid to care more about others ‘cause that’s exactly what we’re gonna do. That’s exactly what she’d want us to do. The show must go on.”
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