If everything goes according to plan, Nashville International Airport is getting a Dolly Parton makeover. Since her passing on August 24, tributes have been popping up all over the world, and this may be one of the most historic.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announced Friday that they intend to rename BNA in honor of the “Jolene” singer, who touched the hearts of millions. The proposal would rename the airport Dolly Parton International Airport, turning one of Nashville’s biggest gateways into a tribute to the woman who helped put Tennessee on the map.
According to the FlyNashville website, Lee spoke with Dolly’s team about the proposal this week, and they were touched by the idea. “Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said.
“From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her. 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.”
© Ron Galella, Ltd.Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell also backed the tribute, connecting it to the close relationship Parton had with the city. “Dolly was in the process of working with us on a remarkable hotel and museum — SongTeller — that she called her love letter to Nashville. Now it’s our turn to share a love letter to Dolly — by renaming Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport in Nashville,” O’Connell said.
© GettyThe announcement stems from a petition that actually started more than a year ago when Parton fans Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion launched a petition calling for them to change the name of the airport. The campaign grew rapidly following her death, with more than 150,000 people signing on.
On Friday, a plane towing a banner reading “Change.org/DollyPartonAirport” flew above the Tennessee State Capitol and Nashville’s Broadway strip, giving the campaign an aerial spotlight.
© Michael Ochs ArchivesFor the people who started the campaign, the moment was understandably emotional. Popovich broke down in tears after learning officials were moving forward with the proposal. “I am just so, so happy that people realize how special she is,” Popovich said, embracing Dion, per Fox 17.
Popovich said she had thought about the possibility of putting Dolly’s name on the airport long before the campaign ever existed. “I always used to think, God, it would be so cool if this airport was actually Dolly Parton Airport. Why is it not, you know?” she said.
© Ron Galella, Ltd.Then Dion called her one day with essentially the same thought. “And one day, Dion called me out of the blue, and he said, you know, I was thinking, what if this was called Dolly Parton Airport?” Popovich recalled.
Tennessee State Rep. Todd Warner has also supported the change, saying he plans to introduce legislation connected to the renaming. “Dolly was so good to this state. She cared about people,” Warner told PEOPLE. “What she has done for this state economically, what she’s done for country music — and she cared about children … Just a great person. We need more Dollys in the world.”
That sentiment has been echoed throughout the tributes to Parton since her death. Her sister Stella Parton recently remembered Dolly as one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people she had ever known. Stella also shared the intimate tradition the sisters kept for years, calling each other every Tuesday morning before sunrise to drink coffee and catch up.
© NBCAccording to Stella, Dolly was still thinking about other people toward the end of her life. She said her sister told her that if there was no hope for her, she would still allow doctors to try experimental treatments if doing so could help future patients.
That instinct to give back became one of the defining parts of Dolly’s legacy. From her Imagination Library, which has given millions of children free books, to her support of education, health care and communities across Tennessee, Parton repeatedly used her success to help other people.
She also spent decades celebrating the state that raised her. Born in Sevier County, Tennessee, Dolly moved to Nashville as a young woman and built a career that eventually made her one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world.
© Fairfax Media ArchivesPopovich believes changing the airport name is exactly what Dolly would have wanted. “Hundreds of thousands of people that come through that airport are going to be kissed on the cheek by Dolly Parton,” she said.
There are still logistical steps surrounding the change, including action by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority and approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Lee’s proposal to rename the airport will be addressed at MNAA’s meeting on Thursday, September 17.
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