The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) voted unanimously to begin the process of renaming Nashville International Airport (BNA) in honor of the late Tennessee music legend Dolly Parton.
The 6-0 vote came during the MNAA Board of Commissioners’ special meeting Friday, marking the first formal step toward changing the airport’s name following an August proposal from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and BNA officials.
In a statement following the meeting, MNAA said that a final name has not yet been determined, and described Friday’s vote as a “first step” in a process to officially change the airport’s name to honor Parton.
It's official! The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously, 6 to 0, to modify our existing naming policy, marking the first step toward renaming Nashville International Airport® in honor of Dolly Parton. pic.twitter.com/e1N7oF6PBo
— Fly Nashville (@Fly_Nashville) September 11, 2026
“While a final name has not yet been determined, we are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated,” the airport authority said. “This vote represents the first step in a multifaceted process. In the coming months, we anticipate having more definitive plans to share regarding the next steps and implementation.”
The board-adopted resolution, MNAA Resolution No. 2026-10, directs President and CEO Doug Kreulen to immediately begin the process of effectuating the name change in consultation with, and subject to approval from, Parton’s estate and other appropriate entities.
The measure also directs MNAA to create a timeline and implementation plan covering the necessary approvals and determine the estimated costs associated with renaming the airport.
Under MNAA Policy 33-006, the airport authority’s board of commissioners has sole authority over changes to the names of buildings, spaces, facilities, or streets under its jurisdiction.
Friday’s vote follows Lee and BNA’s announcement of their intent to rename the airport in Parton’s honor shortly after her death at age 80.
Lee previously said Parton’s life was “forever woven into the fabric of our state” and described the airport as a fitting location to honor her legacy because it is where Tennessee welcomes visitors from around the world.
Parton died peacefully in Nashville on August 25 following what her team described as a “brief battle with cancer.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Dolly Parton” by Fly Nashville.
Well, it appears rules apply until those in control want to ignore them. The naming of an airport for a deceased person by rule is not supposed to be possible until that person has been deceased for at least two years. So much for obeying laws.
Secondly, I understand Dolly Parton was popular, but I contend that Charlie Daniels did much, much more for this area. Why wasn”t the airport renamed for him.
Finally, I have read that the leaders in both chambers of the Tennessee Assembly are claiming that they are going to include funding of Dolly’d Imagination Library for ALL books sent to Tennesseans. I forget the cost, but it is not chump change. I have to ask why my tax dollars are going for the nonprofit when her is estate is reported to be worth $650 million with ongoing money-making enterprises. I am fed up with government officials virtue signaling with taxpayer dollars.
She has done some good things, but calling everyone a dumbass who doesn’t support BLM was pitiful.. also her not using the word Dixie, after using it for years in her Dixie Stampede Dinner shows, seemed to be trying to say that the word Dixie was bad. Not having it. Could have spent that 10 million on better things.