Country superstar Dolly Parton tragically passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. She’s an absolute legend who was widely loved, and she had a huge impact on the country music scene, and beyond that, dedicated so much time and money to helping others. There’s now a serious proposal to honor her at the airport that’s home to country music.
In this post:
Proposal to name Nashville Airport after Dolly Parton
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport (BNA) have announced their intention to name the airport in honor of Dolly Parton, to create a lasting tribute to her legacy, and the people she inspired in Tennessee, and beyond.
Lee reportedly spoke with Dolly’s team about this, and they “expressed their appreciation for the extraordinary outpouring of support to honor Dolly and said they are touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation.” The Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) will discuss this proposal on September 17, 2026.
As you’d expect, there’s still quite a bit of work that has to be completed before this happens. Beyond getting formal approval from the MNAA, there would also presumably be some sort of licensing deal between the airport and Parton’s team.
Furthermore, there’s talk of the airport code possibly changing to “DPI,” referencing “Dolly Parton International.” Currently Nashville Airport uses the code “BNA,” and that’s because when the airport opened in 1937, it was known as Berry Field Nashville. At the time, the airfield was named to honor Colonel Harry Berry, who was the Tennessee administrator for the Works Progress Administration (WPA), as he helped establish the facility.
Here’s what Doug Kreulen, CEO of the MNAA, had to say about this proposal:
“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. 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.”
I’m not a huge fan of naming airports after people, but…
As I’ve explained in the past, in general I’m not a fan of naming airports after people, especially when the name of the person completely overshadows the destination. I’m particularly opposed to renaming airports after politicians, who roughly half of people (at a minimum) will typically dislike.
This isn’t just a partisan take on account of Palm Beach Airport recently being named after Donald Trump. I had the same belief when Las Vegas Airport was named after Harry Reid. However, as I have said in the past:
It’s one thing to name an airport after someone a vast majority of people can agree on, but to me it’s a bit different to name an airport after a politician, which is always going to be divisive
I think to be fair to Dolly Parton, she very much fits in that former category. We live in such a divisive time, and she’s one of the few very high profile people that a vast majority of people can agree on. I saw the below (forget the commentary), and I found it interesting how she has among the highest “favorability” ratings among both Republicans and Democrats. That’s pretty remarkable. And ouch, poor Mark Zuckerberg (well, not really, but…).
So as far as naming airports after people go, I couldn’t think of a person in the United States who would get such a high level of agreement among people across the spectrum. You’d have to otherwise be in North Korea to find such a high approval rating. 😉
Bottom line
There’s a proposal to name Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton, given the impact she has had on the country music scene. While nothing has been finalized yet, the Tennessee governor and airport authority are in favor of this, and are in discussions with her team. If the renaming does happen, you can also expect a change to the airport code, with “DPI” being the frontrunner.
What do you make of possible renaming of Nashville Airport after Dolly Parton?
God bless Dolly Parton. We will always love you.
This proposal actually started 1-3 years ago. 50,000 had signed a petition back then. It increased to 600,000 this week.
There is a law in TN where you cannot rename until the person has been gone for 2 years. I highly suspect that will be changed next month.
Fair enough naming it after her, but they should NOT change the Airport Code. That is just too confusing and disruptive. Boston Logan airport does just fine as BOS, John Lennon Liverpool is LPL, so same should apply to Dolly Parton Nashville airport. Keep it as BNA
Great idea - Dolly sets the tone for Nashville visitors. The last person America can agree on ❤️
If you do not change the Identifier to DDD, I feel as if you will have missed a great opportunity. I am absolutely positive that she would have laughed.
Yes, she would love that!!
Until people favor Zuckerberg more than AOC. America will always be broken.
I disagree renaming BNA.
I have the utmost respect for Dolly Parton.
But you just can't keep renaming places, especially when it's named after someone already.
Will they rename it again after Jelly Roll or Miley Cyrus?
Heck even Elvis didn't get MEM named after.
People behind the idea are just the same type as the PBI lickers who seek attention.
As deserving as DJT International!
She didn’t commit treason against our country
Seems overly gratuitous. Her legacy is already cemented in history, with or without an airport being named after her.
It's a nice act, but largely unnecessary, people will remember her for generations, regardless of if she has an airport named after her.
I fully support this. I think if there's a single person in this world who has been a more uniting force, positive influence on kindness, a legend in her industry, a philanthropist with unwavering commitment to goodness and a spokesperson and advocate for her community and uplifter of those in need, this world has yet to see them. If Dolly doesn't deserve the gateway to her home to be named after her, no airport in the world deserves to be named after anyone.
She has no connection to aviation so not a good choice but not a terrible choice either.
The BNA code was given at a time when codes beginning in N were for naval air stations and military fields (think Newark's and New Orlean's codes). However, I don't know the history of BNA, like did they want NAS or NSH (both used now, but in 1937?), but couldn't get a code starting in N.
Having failed in my campaign to get a fictional airport in David Lynch's excellent TV series named after her, I support this.
Years ago, when I was still crossing the border between the Excited States and Canada regularly, I stayed in Pigeon Forge for a week and played golf next to Dollywood. It was a beautiful area. I met many wonderful Americans. Some say you can never go back.
Fortunately, there are some Americans who transcend politics. She was one.
I still vote to name a Florida airport, other than the one closest to Green Acres, Florida,...
Years ago, when I was still crossing the border between the Excited States and Canada regularly, I stayed in Pigeon Forge for a week and played golf next to Dollywood. It was a beautiful area. I met many wonderful Americans. Some say you can never go back.
Fortunately, there are some Americans who transcend politics. She was one.
I still vote to name a Florida airport, other than the one closest to Green Acres, Florida, which has been recently renamed, "The Ben Schlappig International Airport". My vote is in the mail and may not count.
This would be recognition for the years that Ben has been providing useful information to AV geeks around the world. I will google what accomplishment led to the other Florida airport being renamed.
Same as re-naming EWR the Madonna-Beyonce-Springsteen Airport ( MBS ) .
With nonstop flights to Riyadh.
Now that's MBS.
Ummm.. It's already in use. Midland-Bay City-Saginaw airport in Michigan
No problems on this end. If you can name airports after Louis Armstrong and John Lennon, why not Dolly, who definitely deserves the honor?
Not to mention Antonio Carlos Jobim (for Rio de Janeiro).
Does this mean the airport would only be workin' from 9 to 5?
The only acceptable code for this airport is DDN.
Or DDD lol
See. After she passed; and she did not ask for it. That’s a fitting tribute. This one seems like something both sides, all sides, can agree on.
VERY good point, … but i agree, i think she deserved it even more to have given the name to an airport, compared to many other publicity known people who did close to nothing to EARN the right to name an airport in the US.
Dolly Parton was one of them in the Nashville community, so why not honor such a Legend!
100% for it! Well deserved.
It's nice to see so many people recognize her legacy and the value of being a good human.
Just don’t change the airport code. BNA will always be BNA
Dolly Parton has donated millions and done a ton of community outreach especially to the Nashville community and communities in the South. She’s done more for the southern community than most celebrities ever had. For people, like the post linked, to say that dolly is only viewed highly because she sings country is a very ignorant take.
She was an angel. Singing was just a part of her life. The Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library are a great legacy.
a conservative guess at her philanthropy over her lifetime exceeds half a billion USD. all of that was for causes the people easily relate with.
Brilliant!
A fitting tribute to a great American.
TRUE . . . and for the record, she was honored by the country’s people many times before, so she contributed much during her lifetime, so make it happen and honor her name in an ever lasting change of the airports name. BRAVO