Nashville mayor weighs in on push to rename airport after Dolly Parton, 'a wonderful idea'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The push to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton is gaining momentum.
A petition, launched in 2025, is calling for the name change has collected more than 140,000 verified signatures as of Friday.
The petition points to Parton’s impact on Tennessee through her music, philanthropy, and programs such as the Imagination Library.
After Friday morning's Nashville flyover to push the airport renaming, Mayor O’Connell called the proposal a 'wonderful idea' during his Friday media roundtable. O’Connell said the city wants to ensure any effort to honor Parton aligns with the wishes of her family and foundation.
We’re going to explore that with them and make sure that the way we do it is represented with the way that Dolly did it,” O’Connell said.
The comments come as support grows for renaming BNA as “Dolly Parton International Airport” following the Tennessee icon’s death Tuesday at age 80.
Metro Councilmember Russ Bradford has also supported pursuing a name change, while state Rep. Todd Warner has said he plans to introduce legislation to rename the airport.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority said it has received several inquiries about renaming BNA following Parton’s death.
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No official name change has been approved.