A petition to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton has suddenly become one of the most talked-about U.S. stories following the death of the Tennessee music icon.
The campaign is asking for Nashville International Airport, commonly known by its airport code BNA, to become “Dolly Parton International Airport.” The online petition has now crossed the 100,000-signature mark, with the number continuing to change as new supporters sign.
But there is an important detail behind the viral story: the petition is not new.
It was launched in January 2025 by Tennessee residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion. It gained relatively limited attention at first, then surged following the announcement of Parton’s death on August 25, 2026.
So why do people want to rename Nashville’s airport after Dolly Parton—and does the petition actually mean the airport will be renamed?
Here’s what is known.
Why is there a Dolly Parton airport petition?
The basic argument is that Dolly Parton has become one of the most recognizable cultural figures associated with Tennessee and the Nashville region.
The petition organizers point to three major parts of her legacy:
- her enormous influence on country music;
- her contribution to Tennessee’s tourism and cultural identity;
- her philanthropy, particularly through the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The original petition argues that an institution as significant as Nashville International Airport should carry the name of someone who has made such a major contribution to Tennessee and the wider world.
That argument gained considerably more emotional force after Parton’s death.
The petition’s organizers said the renewed support following her death had “reinvigorated” their campaign.
Did the Dolly Parton airport petition start after her death?
No.
This is one of the most important facts to clarify.
The Change.org campaign was created on January 21, 2025, months before the current viral surge.
Its organizers, Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion, initially launched the campaign because of Parton’s long-standing connection to Tennessee and her cultural and philanthropic contributions.
The petition then became dramatically more popular after Parton’s death was announced on August 25, 2026.
That distinction matters because some social-media posts have made it appear as though fans created the idea immediately after her death.
The idea itself is older. The massive wave of support is new.
How many people signed the Dolly Parton airport petition?
The petition has now passed 100,000 verified signatures, according to its live Change.org page, although the total continues to rise.
Earlier reports showed how quickly the campaign was accelerating.
One local report said the petition had more than 80,000 signatures by August 26, including roughly 35,000 added after Parton’s death.
The live petition page subsequently moved beyond 100,000 and later showed an even higher figure.
Because the campaign remains active, the exact total should be treated as dynamic rather than a fixed number.
Why did the numbers rise so quickly?
The timing appears to be the biggest factor.
Parton’s death transformed an existing petition into a highly emotional tribute campaign.
Celebrity support and renewed media coverage then helped expose the petition to a much larger audience.
What would the new airport name be?
The petition proposes:
Dolly Parton International Airport
The airport is currently known as Nashville International Airport and uses the IATA code BNA. The official airport website continues to identify it as Nashville International Airport (BNA).
That means the petition is asking for a substantial change to the airport’s public name.
However, there is an important distinction:
Signing the online petition does not automatically change the airport’s name.
What does BNA stand for?
BNA is associated with Berry Field Nashville Airport.
The “Berry Field” name refers to Col. Harry Smith Berry, a Tennessee military figure whose name was historically associated with the airport.
The BNA code has remained in use even though the airport’s public name is Nashville International Airport. Reporting on the petition has highlighted this history as part of the debate around a possible renaming.
So even if the public name eventually became Dolly Parton International Airport, the familiar BNA code could potentially remain.
That is an important point because airport names and IATA codes are not necessarily changed together.
Why do supporters think Dolly Parton deserves the honor?
The argument goes well beyond her music career.
Dolly Parton’s Tennessee connection
Parton was born in Sevier County, Tennessee, and built a career deeply connected to the state.
Her name is closely associated with Tennessee tourism through Dollywood, the major theme park in the Smoky Mountains.
Her influence also extends into Nashville’s music industry and the broader identity of Tennessee as a center of country music.
Her philanthropic work
Her supporters also point to her philanthropy.
One of the most prominent examples is the Imagination Library, a literacy program that provides books to young children.
The petition itself specifically highlights the program as part of the reason Parton deserves the honor.
For supporters, naming an international gateway after Parton would therefore recognize not only a singer but also a philanthropist, entrepreneur and Tennessee cultural figure.
Who supports renaming Nashville airport after Dolly Parton?
The campaign has attracted support from several public figures.
Country singer Sheryl Crow publicly expressed support for renaming the airport during an Instagram Live conversation with Katie Couric.
There is also political support.
Nashville Metro Councilmember Russ Bradford has advocated for the airport to be renamed and said he was working to encourage the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to consider the idea.
Tennessee State Representative Todd Warner has also indicated that he would introduce legislation supporting a name change. The petition’s page identifies Warner as a responding decision-maker.
That is significant because the campaign has moved beyond a purely online fan movement.
Does the petition automatically rename Nashville airport?
No.
This is perhaps the most important answer for readers.
A Change.org petition is a way to demonstrate public support. It is not itself an official airport renaming mechanism.
A formal name change would require action by the relevant government and airport authorities.
Reports indicate that the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) would play an important role in any renaming decision, while legislative action may also be required depending on the final proposal and legal structure.
The airport authority continues to officially operate the facility as Nashville International Airport (BNA).
So, as of now:
There is a petition. There is political support. There is a public campaign. But the airport has not officially been renamed Dolly Parton International Airport.
Could Nashville airport actually become Dolly Parton International Airport?
It is possible, but it is not yet confirmed.
The campaign now has something it did not have when the petition was first launched: significant public attention and support from political figures.
Metro Councilmember Russ Bradford has advocated for the proposal, while State Representative Todd Warner has said he would introduce legislation.
However, several steps would need to occur before travelers could officially see the new name.
The process could involve:
- A formal proposal or legislation.
- Consideration by the relevant Nashville/airport authorities.
- Approval through the appropriate governmental process.
- Coordination over airport branding and signage.
- Potential federal considerations involving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Therefore, the current campaign should be described as a renaming effort, not an accomplished name change.
Why is the story going viral now?
There are several reasons.
Dolly Parton’s death changed the campaign’s context
The petition existed for more than a year before the current surge.
After Parton’s death was announced, the idea of naming Nashville’s airport after her became a symbolic way for fans to honor her legacy.
Social media accelerated the campaign
The petition’s online format made it easy for supporters to share.
The campaign then received attention from established media outlets and celebrities.
Political figures joined the discussion
Once elected officials began publicly discussing the idea, the story became more than a fan petition.
It became a question of whether Nashville and Tennessee authorities might actually consider changing the airport’s name.
Was there another Nashville airport renaming proposal?
Yes.
The Dolly Parton petition emerged during a period when the Nashville airport’s name had already become a political issue.
The petition was launched in January 2025 amid a separate Tennessee legislative effort to rename the airport after Donald Trump. That proposal did not advance.
That background helps explain why the Parton campaign was created in the first place.
The organizers argued that a Tennessee figure with a long-standing connection to the state would be a more fitting namesake.
The current campaign, however, has developed into its own separate effort centered on Parton’s legacy.
What does Nashville International Airport say about the proposal?
The airport itself continues to operate officially as Nashville International Airport (BNA).
The airport has not announced an official renaming.
It has, however, acknowledged Parton’s significance following her death.
According to local reporting, Nashville International Airport announced that it would honor Parton by lighting its parking garages pink. An airport spokesperson described her as a singer, songwriter, philanthropist, entrepreneur and “Tennessee legend.”
That tribute is separate from the proposed permanent name change.
What happens to the BNA airport code if the name changes?
This is one of the questions travelers are likely to ask.
A name change would not necessarily mean the BNA code disappears.
Airport names and IATA airport codes are separate identifiers.
For example, an airport can have a formal name that differs from the historical origin of its three-letter code.
Therefore, even if Nashville’s public airport name eventually changed to Dolly Parton International Airport, it would not automatically follow that flights would suddenly stop using BNA.
Any changes to the airport’s official identifiers would need to be determined separately.
Why Nashville may be a particularly fitting place for the tribute
The proposal has a geographic logic behind it.
Nashville is internationally associated with country music, and Dolly Parton is one of the most recognizable figures in the genre.
But her relationship with Tennessee goes beyond Nashville’s music industry.
Her career, businesses, tourism influence and philanthropic programs have helped make her one of the state’s most recognizable ambassadors.
Supporters therefore see an airport name as particularly appropriate because an airport is one of the first things international and domestic visitors encounter when arriving in the region.
The proposal would effectively turn the airport into a permanent public tribute.
Dolly Parton airport petition: What is confirmed and what is not?
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| Petition exists | Confirmed |
| Petition started January 21, 2025 | Confirmed |
| Petition asks for “Dolly Parton International Airport” | Confirmed |
| Petition has passed 100,000 signatures | Confirmed |
| Signatures surged after Parton’s death | Confirmed |
| Sheryl Crow supports the idea | Reported/confirmed by coverage of her comments |
| Russ Bradford supports a renaming effort | Confirmed by reporting |
| Todd Warner said he would introduce legislation | Confirmed on petition page/reporting |
| Nashville airport has officially been renamed | No |
| BNA has officially changed its name | No |
| Dolly Parton International Airport is now the official name | No |
This distinction is important because viral posts can make a proposal appear much further along than it actually is.
What happens next?
The next major development to watch is whether the political support turns into a formal legislative or airport-authority action.
If legislation is introduced, the debate would move from an online petition to an official government process.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority would also be central to the discussion because it operates Nashville International Airport.
Until those steps occur, travelers should continue to use the official name Nashville International Airport (BNA).
The airport’s own website continues to identify it under that name.
The bottom line
The Dolly Parton airport petition is real, but the story is more complicated than the viral headline suggests.
The campaign was started in January 2025, long before the current surge. It asks for Nashville International Airport to be renamed Dolly Parton International Airport in recognition of Parton’s enormous cultural, philanthropic and economic contributions to Tennessee.
After Parton’s death was announced on August 25, 2026, the campaign exploded in popularity and crossed 100,000 verified signatures on Change.org.
Support has also expanded into Nashville and Tennessee politics, with Councilmember Russ Bradford advocating for the idea and State Representative Todd Warner indicating support for legislation.
But Nashville airport has not been renamed yet.
For now, it remains Nashville International Airport (BNA). Whether it eventually becomes Dolly Parton International Airport will depend on what happens through the relevant political and airport-authority processes.
The petition has clearly demonstrated one thing, though: there is now a major public campaign to make Dolly Parton’s name a permanent part of Nashville’s gateway to the world.
“Sources Used”
https://www.change.org/p/rename-nashville-international-airport-to-dolly-parton-international-airport-d234875f-d5aa-4c57-8027-99bfd2594721
www.fox19.com/2026/08/26/petition-rename-nashville-airport-after-dolly-parton-surges-following-country-music-legends-death/
FAQ
Why are people asking to rename Nashville airport after Dolly Parton?
Supporters say Parton’s enormous contribution to Tennessee through music, philanthropy, tourism and business makes her an appropriate namesake for Nashville’s international airport.
How many signatures does the Dolly Parton airport petition have?
The Change.org petition has surpassed 100,000 verified signatures, although the number is continuing to change as people sign.
Who started the Dolly Parton airport petition?
Tennessee residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion launched the petition on January 21, 2025.
Has Nashville airport officially been renamed Dolly Parton International Airport?
No. The airport remains officially known as Nashville International Airport and uses the BNA code.
What would the proposed new name be?
The petition proposes Dolly Parton International Airport.
Does BNA stand for Dolly Parton International Airport?
No. BNA is associated with Berry Field Nashville Airport and has historical roots connected to Col. Harry Smith Berry.
Who supports renaming Nashville airport after Dolly Parton?
Support has been expressed by musician Sheryl Crow, Nashville Councilmember Russ Bradford and Tennessee State Representative Todd Warner, among others.
Will the petition automatically change the airport’s name?
No. An online petition demonstrates public support but does not itself rename an airport. A formal governmental and airport-authority process would be required.
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