Nashville Unscripted · Nashville Airport
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announced their intent to rename BNA as Dolly Parton International Airport on August 28, 2026 — three days after her death.
Nashville International Airport is being renamed Dolly Parton International Airport. Governor Bill Lee and BNA announced the name change on August 28, 2026, just three days after Dolly Parton died peacefully in Nashville at age 80.
The rename fulfills the wishes of more than 164,000 fans who signed a Change.org petition — a petition that exploded with signatures in the days following her death — and has the support of Parton’s own team, Tennessee legislators, Nashville’s mayor, and the airport authority itself.
Official Statement
“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.” — Governor Bill Lee
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January 2025
Petition Launched
Fans Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion launch a Change.org petition to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton. The petition gains steady signatures throughout 2025.
January 2025
Dolly Responds
When asked about the petition on CBS Mornings, Dolly Parton said she thought the idea was “just a joke” — characteristically humble about the idea of being honored in her lifetime.
August 25, 2026
Dolly Parton Dies
Dolly Parton passes away peacefully at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Tens of thousands of new signatures flood the petition within hours.
August 28, 2026
Official Announcement
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announce their joint intent to rename BNA as Dolly Parton International Airport. Parton’s team confirms they are “touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation.”
TBD
Official Rename
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority must formally vote on the change. Current naming policy requires honorees to have been deceased for at least two years — the authority will need to revisit this policy or grant an exception. A formal vote is expected at an upcoming authority meeting.
What Changes — and What Doesn’t
For Travelers: The Airport Code Stays BNA
The IATA airport code BNA will not change. Your flights, boarding passes, and booking confirmations will still say BNA. The name change is to the official facility name — Dolly Parton International Airport — not to the three-letter code that airlines and booking systems use. Plan your travel the same way you always have.
The rename affects the official name of the airport facility, signage throughout the terminal, and how the airport is referenced officially. Everything functional — gates, terminals, the Ground Transportation Center, rideshare pickup, rental cars — remains exactly the same.
Why BNA Is the Right Place to Honor Her
Dolly Parton arrived in Nashville at age 18 with $20, a suitcase, and a guitar. She stepped off a bus, not a plane — but Nashville International Airport has welcomed millions of visitors to the city she spent her career building into the music capital of the world.
Every fan who flew into Nashville for a country music concert, every visitor who came to experience Music Row and the Ryman and the honky tonks on Broadway — they all passed through the airport that will now bear her name. It’s a fitting welcome to the city she loved.
Tennessee state Senator Jessie Seal also introduced legislation to designate September 25 as “9 to 5 Day” — a nod to Parton’s most famous anthem. Nashville is finding every way it can to honor her.
Getting to and from Dolly Parton International Airport
Everything about getting in and out of Nashville’s airport works exactly as it did before the rename. Here’s your complete guide:
- BNA to Downtown Nashville — every option ranked by cost and time. Rideshare, taxi, WeGo, hotel shuttle.
- Uber & Rideshare Pickup at BNA — where to go after baggage claim. The pickup zone is further than most expect.
- Uber vs Lyft vs WeGo from BNA — the honest comparison of every ground transportation option.
- BNA Airport Parking Guide — on-site vs off-site rates, best budget options, cell phone waiting lot.
- How Much Does BNA Parking Cost? — real numbers by trip length so you know what to budget.
- How Long from Nashville Airport to Downtown? — 15–20 min normally, 30–45 during rush hour.
- BNA Construction 2026 — what’s changed during the Central Core Enhancement project through 2027.
Dolly Parton’s Nashville Legacy
The airport rename is one piece of a broader outpouring of tributes from Nashville and the state of Tennessee. For the full story of what Dolly Parton meant to this city and where her legacy lives today, see our Dolly Parton Nashville tribute guide.
And for the festival she planned herself — now a tribute celebration — see our DollyFest Nashville 2027 guide for everything we know about the two-day event coming to Nashville next year.
→ Dolly Parton Nashville: Her Legacy in Music City
→ DollyFest Nashville 2027: Everything We Know
→ How to Get from BNA to Downtown Nashville
→ BNA Airport Parking Guide
→ Moving to Nashville: The Complete Guide
The rename of Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport has been announced by Governor Lee and BNA but requires a formal vote by the Metro Nashville Airport Authority. This post will be updated as the official process is completed. All information sourced from official government and airport announcements.