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Nashville International Airport could have a new name to honor the late Dolly Parton, the legendary singer, songwriter and philanthropist who became synonymous with the spirit of the Volunteer State.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority will formally address the naming proposal during its meeting on Sept. 17. Additional details are expected in the coming weeks, including how Dolly Parton would be incorporated into the airport’s official name.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) announced a partnership with Nashville International Airport and the proposal to transform it into a lasting memorial to Dolly Parton, who grew up in the Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee, and whose influence stretched far beyond the stages where she performed.
Lee contacted Parton’s team to discuss the tribute. Her representatives expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, noting they were “touched by the idea” and willing to continue conversations about the honor, he said.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said. “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.”
Douglas Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, emphasized that the airport serves as “the front door to Music City” and should reflect the community’s values. “[Dolly] understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status,” he said, adding that Nashville International Airport shares that commitment to welcoming all travelers with equal care and respect.
Nashville International Airport goes by the BNA airport code, which stands for Berry Field Nashville. It is named after U.S. Army Col. Harry S. Berry, a World War I veteran and the Tennessee administrator of the Works Progress Administration, the 1930s New Deal program that created jobs and projects during the Great Depression. Nashville’s Berry Field was one of those projects; it opened in June 1937.
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