- The Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board voted 6-0 to start renaming Nashville International Airport for Dolly Parton.
- Officials need policy changes, estate consultation, and FAA approvals before any final airport name is adopted.
- The transition could cost $8 million to $10 million and take six months to a year.
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board voted 6-0 Friday, September 11, 2026, to begin changing the name of Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton. The airport has not been legally renamed.
The vote launched a broader approval process. Officials have not settled on the final name.
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The authority said it is “working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.” One option under discussion is “Dolly Parton Nashville International Airport.”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee backed the effort before the vote. He said travelers should be greeted by “the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness,” and called Parton “our state’s favorite daughter.”
The board’s action followed a public petition with more than 175,000 signatures. It also requires a change to the airport’s naming policy, which currently bars naming an airport for someone who has been dead for fewer than two years.
The vote starts approvals, not the final legal name
The resolution authorized Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, to begin implementation work immediately. His assignment includes building a schedule and identifying the approvals needed for the change.
The resolution directs him to “begin the process, in consultation with and subject to approval of Dolly Parton’s estate and other appropriate entities, create a timeline and implementation plan for all necessary approvals and determine the estimated costs associated with the renaming of the airport in honor of Dolly Parton.”
Parton’s estate will therefore take part in consultations before the authority chooses a final name. The Federal Aviation Administration also remains part of the administrative process.
The proposal discussed publicly as Dolly Parton International Airport is not yet the airport’s official designation. The authority’s statement leaves open how Parton’s name and legacy will appear in the final wording.
BNA would stay while the name changes move forward
The airport’s three-letter code, BNA, is expected to remain unchanged. That code will continue to identify the facility during the transition.
| Transition detail | Current estimate or plan |
|---|---|
| Airport code | BNA remains in place |
| Project cost | $8 million to $10 million |
| Funding sources | Metro, State and airport resources |
| Time to official transition | Six months to a year |
| Visible work | A complete signage overhaul is likely |
Officials have also described the cost as “millions.” The final estimate is part of the implementation work assigned to Kreulen.
The transition will involve more than a ceremonial vote. Signs, airport properties and administrative records would need to reflect the approved name if the process is completed.
A policy change is needed for a living honoree
The current naming rule requires a person to have “made a significant impact on aviation in Tennessee.” It also requires at least two years to pass after that person’s death.
Parton is living, so the board must remove or revise that restriction before the proposed honor can proceed. The resolution begins that policy path.
Support for the change came from state and local officials as well as the petition campaign. The board’s vote moved the proposal beyond public advocacy and into formal approvals.
The agency has not treated Friday’s vote as the final legal name change. Additional government approvals remain necessary.
Six board members backed the resolution
Board chair Christy Smith voted in favor, as did board members Faye Johnson, Jaynee Day, Dixie Tuggle, Monika M. Johnson and Brett Snyder. The six votes produced the unanimous result recorded Friday.
Butch Spyridon, another board member, said the airport should reflect Nashville’s identity. The room grew emotional after the vote, with attendees in tears.
Kreulen now leads the next stage. His work must account for the estate’s approval, the authority’s policy revision, the FAA process and the costs of changing the airport’s public identity.
The airport code is expected to provide continuity while those steps proceed. The new name, if approved, could take six months to a year to become official.
