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Nashville Airport Set to Vote on Dolly Parton Rename

The board overseeing Nashville's airport is preparing to vote on a proposed name change.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has thrown his support behind renaming the facility after the legendary Dolly Parton, who passed away last month at the age of 80.

According to the Nashville Business Journal, officials at the Metro Nashville Airport Authority are expected to formally endorse the change during their board meeting on 11 September.

If approved, the vote would set off a lengthy and costly process, requiring a major overhaul that could run into millions of dollars.

There is considerable public backing for the airport to be called Dolly Parton International. A Change.org petition launched in January 2025 has already collected more than 175,000 signatures.

Governor Lee, when announcing his support, said the rebrand would serve as "a lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world."

He also indicated that the Parton family is on board, noting that her team had expressed gratitude. "They are touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation. In keeping with the way Dolly lived her life, her team believes she still has a special way of bringing people together for good, and they hope this tribute can be another example of that enduring legacy," the statement read.

The Metro Nashville Airport Authority will also need to vote to bypass its own rule that prohibits naming facilities after individuals until two years after their death.

Photo: Cover Media
Source: Muzland
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