For generations of travelers arriving in Tennessee, Nashville International Airport—better known by its airport code, BNA—has been the gateway to Music City. Now, that gateway could soon carry the name of one of Tennessee’s most recognizable and beloved ambassadors: Dolly Parton.
Following Parton’s death on August 25 at age 80, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport officials announced their intent to rename BNA in her honor. The proposal would create a lasting tribute to the Tennessee native whose music, philanthropy and unmistakable personality have introduced millions of people around the world to the Volunteer State.
The proposal is not yet final. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is expected to consider the matter at its September 17 meeting, including whether its existing naming policy should be changed. Current policy reportedly requires an individual to have been deceased for at least two years before an airport property can be named in their honor.
A Fitting Welcome to Music City
For Tennessee travelers, the symbolism is hard to miss. Parton’s career has been intertwined with Nashville since she moved to the city after graduating high school. From songwriting and recording sessions to her rise as an international country music superstar, she helped establish Nashville as a global center for music. But her influence extends far beyond country music.
With hits including “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” Parton became one of the most successful songwriters and performers of her generation. She sold more than 100 million records and earned 11 Grammy Awards while building a career that crossed effortlessly into television, film, business and tourism.
Naming Nashville’s airport for Parton would mean that visitors arriving in Music City would encounter her name almost immediately—a fitting introduction to a woman who spent decades helping put Tennessee on the world stage.
Dolly’s Legacy Is More Than Music
Dolly Parton’s Tennessee legacy is also deeply connected to tourism.
In East Tennessee, Dollywood transformed the Pigeon Forge area into one of the country’s best-known family vacation destinations. Her business ventures, entertainment projects and philanthropy have helped attract visitors to Tennessee from around the globe.
Her Imagination Library, meanwhile, has distributed hundreds of millions of free books to children, making childhood literacy one of the defining causes of her philanthropic legacy. Tennessee officials have repeatedly recognized the program and Parton’s broader contributions to the state.
Governor Lee previously proclaimed January 19, 2026, as Dolly Parton Day in Tennessee in recognition of her 80th birthday, calling her life and career part of Tennessee’s music, culture and history.
A Name That Could Welcome Millions of Travelers
The airport naming effort gained significant public momentum before the governor’s announcement. A petition launched in January 2025 calling for BNA to be renamed for Parton attracted more than 150,000 signatures following her death.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and other Tennessee officials have also expressed support for honoring Parton, while her family has indicated an openness to discussing the proposal.
If approved, the change would be particularly meaningful because Nashville International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the United States. Parton would also become the first woman whose name appears on one of the nation’s 50 busiest airports, according to the Associated Press.
For a state that has benefited enormously from Dolly Parton’s ability to make people want to visit Tennessee, it feels like a fitting tribute.
The Gateway to Tennessee’s Dolly Country
Travelers flying into Nashville often arrive looking for music, food, Southern hospitality and the stories that make Tennessee special. Dolly Parton has been part of all of those things.
From the Great Smoky Mountains to Nashville’s recording studios, her influence can be felt throughout the state. She didn’t simply sing about Tennessee—she helped turn the state’s culture into an experience that people around the world wanted to see for themselves.
Whether BNA ultimately receives her name remains in the hands of the airport authority. But the proposal itself demonstrates just how deeply Parton is woven into the identity of Tennessee.
And for those of us who love traveling through the Volunteer State, there could be something wonderfully appropriate about arriving in Music City through an airport named for the woman who spent her life making the world fall in love with Tennessee.