Hello Dolly! Tennessee Governor Announces Nashville Airport Will Be Renamed for Dolly Parton

Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP

It’s official: Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee announced plans Friday to rename Nashville’s international airport for the late Dolly Parton.

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement. “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.”

The governor also spoke to Parton’s team about the name change this week.

Parton’s team said they are touched by the idea, according to a statement from the state house.

“BNA^® is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community,” Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority President and CEO Doug Kreulen said in the statement.

He added, “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. At BNA, we share that commitment. Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care. That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world.”

The name change will be discussed at the Sept. 17 meeting of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA).

Parton, who was born in Sevier County, Tennessee, died on August 25, in Nashville. Her death sparked an outpouring of emotion and reactions from around the world.

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