Tennessee governor backs proposal to rename Nashville airport for Dolly Parton

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has endorsed a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of country music star Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday, 25 August, aged 80.

Lee announced his support on Friday, 28 August, saying he and airport leaders wanted a lasting tribute to Parton’s influence on Tennessee, music and philanthropy. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell also backed the proposed name, Dolly Parton International Airport in Nashville.

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority is scheduled to consider the proposal at its meeting on 17 September. The authority’s president, Doug Kreulen, said Parton’s values of dignity, kindness and opportunity aligned with the airport’s role in welcoming travelers.

Supporters have also organized a public petition that had attracted more than 150,000 signatures by Saturday. The formal decision, however, rests with the relevant airport and local authorities.

Parton was born in rural eastern Tennessee and built a career spanning country and popular music, film, television and business. She won 11 Grammy awards and wrote songs including “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” Her charitable work included the Imagination Library, which distributes books to children.

Her family has requested a private funeral, and no public memorial is planned. She is expected to be buried beside her husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville.

Before her death, Parton had also been developing a Nashville hotel and museum project called SongTeller. City officials said they were working with her family and team on other appropriate forms of public recognition.