Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has proposed that Nashville International Airport be named after the late Dolly Parton, creating a lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world. Lee spoke with Dolly's team about the proposal last week.
"Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state," said Lee. "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 Metro Nashville Airport Authority's current Naming Policy and Gov. Lee's proposal to rename the airport will be addressed at the MNAA's meeting on September 17.
Born in Sevier County, Dolly became a global icon whose music, creativity, and unmistakable voice reflected the heart and spirit of Tennessee.
Parton died last Tuesday in Nashville at the age of 80. She was laid to rest at a private, family-only service, and buried next to her late husband, Carl Dean, at Nashville's Woodlawn Memorial Park.
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