Petition To Rename Nashville Airport After Dolly Parton Gains Major Momentum, Hits 50,000 Signatures

The push to rename Nashville’s airport in honor of Dolly Parton is gaining serious momentum. Since the petition opened in January, it has racked up an impressive 50,000 signatures and counting.

If successful, Nashville International Airport could soon be known as “Dolly Parton International Airport,” celebrating the Queen of Country’s lasting impact on the city.

“As proud citizens of Tennessee, we are motivated by our deep-rooted admiration for the national treasure and Tennessee legend, Dolly Parton. She is not only a celebrated artist who encourages love, acceptance, and goodwill through her music, but also a philanthropist, known for her countless contributions to society,” the petition reads.

The description goes on the further explain why honoring Parton in this way would be a perfect tribute for the city of Nashville.

“It is only fitting that an institution as significant as Nashville International Airport carries the name of such a remarkable woman. Dolly has made substantial impacts on thousands of lives, especially through her Imagination Library program, which has gifted over 100 million books to children since it began in 1995. Dolly’s philanthropic efforts, her outstanding influence in the music industry, and the love she has instilled in our hearts through her actions and songs, truly make her a deserving candidate to have the Nashville International Airport named after her.

“We request that the airport’s name be changed to Dolly Parton International Airport to honor an icon who has given so much to our state and to the world. Sign the petition to make this change a reality. We could all be Departin’ from Parton!!”

This effort was launched on change.org by users named Lydia Popovich & Dan Dion shortly after Tennessee lawmakers proposed a bill to rename BNA after President Donald Trump.

The latest update from the pair of users came on April 3, encouraging the public to continue to aid in moving the campaign forward. They also explained that in order to do so, there are a few people that need to get on board, including Rep. Todd Warner, a Tennessee state legislator who has supposedly shown support for the renaming of the airport.

The second important decision-maker to involve is Douglas Kreulen, CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA), who in a way, is the most valuable voice in the situation as he oversees the airport and would be in charge of approving a name change.

“The more public support they see, the harder it will be to ignore this movement. We’ve already hit 45,000 signatures – let’s keep the momentum going,” Lydia and Dan wrote in conclusion.

New Dolly Parton Exhibit To Open In Country Music Hall of Fame And Museum

There is no doubt that Dolly Parton’s music and philanthropy have made a lasting impact on both the genre of country music and the city of Nashville. The community is constantly finding new ways to celebrate her efforts, with the latest being a new exhibition in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum.

From May 20 until Sept. 2026, Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker will be on display, highlighting key moments from Parton’s remarkable 60+ year career, including how she overcame challenges and proved her critics wrong by becoming one of the most adored and recognizable figures worldwide.

The exhibit will include various pieces of iconic outfits, awards, handwritten lyrics to classic hits like “Jolene”, signature instruments, photographs, exclusive interview footage and more. 

“Being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame was one of the greatest moments of my life, and being able to have a personal exhibit for the fans that put me there is a very big deal to me,” said Dolly Parton. “This seeker is very proud and honored, and I hope you enjoy my journey. I will always love you.”

“After accomplishing enough for three lifetimes, Dolly Parton continues to astound and amaze us with her boundless talent, her vivacious wit and her tremendous generosity,” said Kyle Young, chief executive officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Like all great artists, Parton has demonstrated consistently that she can transform adversity and setbacks into works of stunning beauty and insight into the human condition.”

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The Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker exhibit is available to view with the purchase of museum admission. Since there are limited timed tickets available each day, it’s recommended to make reservations in advance. Ticket availability can be found on the museum’s website.