Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has thrown his weight behind a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport in honour of Dolly Parton, the country music icon who died last week at the age of 80. The announcement came after a surge of public support, including an online petition that has gathered more than 170,000 signatures.
In a statement, Lee said he had spoken with Parton's team, who expressed gratitude for the outpouring of affection. "Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state," he said. "At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith and kindness."
The Change.org petition, originally launched in January 2025, gained fresh momentum after Parton's death. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell also voiced support, describing a planned hotel and museum project called SongTeller that Parton had been developing with the city. "Now it's our turn to share a love letter to Dolly," O'Connell wrote on Instagram, "by renaming Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport in Nashville."
The proposal now requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, but the political will appears strong. A Tennessee lawmaker has pledged to introduce legislation in the statehouse to make the renaming official.
A legacy that resonates far beyond Tennessee
Parton's influence extends well beyond the United States. Her songs have been covered by artists across Europe, from Miley Cyrus to the Swedish pop group ABBA, and her philanthropy has supported literacy programmes worldwide. The news of her death prompted tributes from fans and public figures globally, including some controversy over a social media post by former President Donald Trump, which drew criticism for its timing and tone.
In the days following her death, streaming numbers for Parton's catalogue skyrocketed. According to data from Luminate, audio and video streams of her music jumped by 2,458% in the US on the day she died, climbing from 1.2 million to 30.5 million. Worldwide, streams surged by 1,549%, from 2.5 million to 41.8 million. By Wednesday, her on-demand audio streams had reached 79.7 million, making her the most streamed artist globally.
Parton's career spanned six decades, earning her ten Grammy Awards and sales of over 100 million records. Hits like '9 to 5', 'Jolene', and 'I Will Always Love You' have become anthems for generations, and her music continues to find new audiences across Europe and beyond.
The singer was laid to rest on 28 August in a private funeral at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, beside her husband Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. Her niece, Lainey Parton, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, recalling her aunt's unwavering support. "From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough," she wrote. "She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn't do something."
As Nashville prepares to honour its most famous daughter, the airport renaming would serve as a permanent reminder of Parton's impact on music, culture, and community. For Europeans who have long admired her work, the gesture underscores the universal appeal of an artist whose songs transcend borders.
