Nashville airport could turn into one dedicated to Dolly Parton after Tennessee governor's proposal: What does it say?

Three days after Dolly Parton's death at 80, Tennessee is moving to put her name on one of the state's most prominent gateways: Nashville International Airport.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport officials announced Friday that they intend to begin the process of renaming the airport in Parton's honour, a move that would attach the country music legend's name to the place where millions of travellers arrive in Music City.

Lee called Parton “Tennessee's favourite daughter” and said an airport that welcomes visitors from around the world would be a fitting tribute to her life, music and legacy.


Also read: Dolly Parton earned $10 million from Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ — then invested the royalties in a Black Nashville neighborhood

"Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state. At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith and kindness," he said.

The proposal comes days after Parton's death and amid renewed public support for a campaign to name the airport after her. According to Variety, the campaign began last year after a separate proposal to rename the airport after US President Donald Trump.

From Tennessee's favourite daughter to a proposed airport namesake

Parton was born in rural Tennessee before moving to Nashville and becoming one of country music's most recognisable figures. She won 10 Grammy Awards and sold 100 million records worldwide, with songs including Coat of Many Colors, 9 to 5, Jolene and I Will Always Love You.

Her connection to Tennessee extended well beyond music. Through the Dollywood Foundation and its Imagination Library programme, she built a major charitable legacy, while Nashville remained central to her career and public life.

Parton's team is aware of the airport proposal and supports continuing discussions over a possible name change, according to the joint statement.

Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said Parton's legacy reflected the city's reputation for welcoming people from all backgrounds.

"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," Kreulen said.

Also read: Dolly Parton grew up in a “dirt poor” Tennessee family, refused Elvis Presley’s offer and went on to build a $650 million empire

Nashville prepares its own love letter to Dolly

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell has also backed the proposal, pointing to Parton's plans for a hotel and museum in the city as another part of her connection to Nashville.

"Dolly was in the process of working with us on a remarkable hotel and museum -- SongTeller, that she called her love letter to Nashville. Now it's our turn to share a love letter to Dolly, by renaming Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport in Nashville," O'Connell wrote on social media.

The proposed renaming will be discussed at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority's meeting on September 17.

If approved, the change would give Nashville's principal airport a name that carries the legacy of a Tennessee-born performer whose career stretched far beyond country music — and whose connection to the state was built as much on philanthropy and public generosity as on songs known around the world.