Nashville International Airport is to be renamed in honour of Dolly Parton, the country music star and philanthropist who died in August at the age of 80, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said.
The proposal hands one of the busiest airports in the US south a globally recognised name, tying the gateway to Music City to a figure whose reach extended from country music into tourism, publishing and philanthropy across Tennessee.
Lee said he had spoken with Parton’s team about the proposal, which followed an online petition that gained momentum across social media, and that her team expressed appreciation for the support.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said. “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 favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
Nashville International Airport, which uses the code BNA, is the front door to Music City, said Doug Kreulen, president and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA).
“Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life,” Kreulen said.
“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.”
The MNAA’s current naming policy and Lee’s proposal will be addressed at the authority’s meeting on September 17.