Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Nashville International Airport (BNA) announced a proposal today to rename the airport in honor of global icon Dolly Parton, celebrating her profound cultural and philanthropic impact on the state.

Gov. Lee discussed the initiative with Parton’s team, who expressed gratitude for the widespread support, noting they are touched by the idea and open to further discussions.

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Gov. Lee said, highlighting her embodiment of the Volunteer Spirit from her East Tennessee roots to world stages.

Airport officials emphasized that BNA serves as the front door to Music City, making Parton a fitting symbol of the community’s core values of dignity, kindness, and hospitality. Beyond her legendary music career, Parton is widely celebrated for her extensive philanthropy, most notably through the Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library, which has distributed hundreds of millions of free books to children globally.

The proposal, alongside the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority’s (MNAA) current Naming Policy, will be officially reviewed at the upcoming MNAA meeting on Thursday, September 17.