The Nashville airport is one step closer to a new name.

In a unanimous 6-0 vote on Friday (September 11), the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority opted to move forward with the process to rename the airport in honor of late country legend Dolly Parton. Parton, who was born in East Tennessee, died on August 25 “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer,” her representatives confirmed. She was 80. Parton has since been laid to rest in a private service for immediate family beside her husband, Carl Dean. Dean died in March 2025. He was 82.

Shortly after Parton’s passing, a petition to rename the Nashville International Airport in Parton’s honor received a surge in signatures (Parton said in a lighthearted response, “well, I’m very flattered. I think that’s just a joke. I don’t think anybody’s all that serious about that.”). Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced days after Parton’s death that he aimed to rename the travel hub for the beloved legend.

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement at the time. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”

On Friday, the Nashville International Airport’s Instagram account posted: “It’s official! The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously, 6 to 0, to modify our existing naming policy, marking the first step toward renaming Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton. This is an exciting and historic moment for BNA and Music City.”

The final name of the airport has yet to be determined, according to an official statement released on Friday. Officials”are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.” The Metro Nashville Airport Authority’s vote on Friday is “the first step in a multifaceted process.” The release states that “more definitive plans” are expected in the coming months.

“We are grateful for the tremendous support and enthusiasm from our community and Dolly’s fans around the world. We look forward to sharing additional details as plans are finalized.”

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