RismadarVoice Reporters
September 11, 2026
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) voted 6–0 on Friday to rename Nashville International Airport in honour of country music legend Dolly Parton, following her death last month.
The board’s decision comes after growing public support and coordination between local authorities and state leadership to memorialise the global icon.
The facility will adopt the official name Dolly Parton International Airport while maintaining its historic “BNA” location code.
“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 MNAA said in an official statement.
Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Officials noted that the Dollywood Foundation is actively collaborating with airport authority leadership to integrate her brand and cultural legacy into the facility.
The official renaming coincides with several other major local projects dedicated to the artist in Nashville, including the planned opening of Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel and the Life of Many Colours Museum.
