Story perspectives

Nashville Airport Renamed Dolly Parton International, $10 Million Cost

8/29/2026

Center

Lee Renames Airport

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announced on August 28, 2026 that the airport will be renamed Dolly Parton International Airport.
The proposal seeks a September 17 exception to the authority’s rule barring names of individuals deceased less than two years.
Governor Lee said he spoke with Dolly Parton’s team, which will continue talks.
Nashville Airport Authority estimates the renaming will cost about $10 million, funded from its annual budget.

Left

Lee Renames Airport

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announced on August 28, 2026 that the airport will be renamed Dolly Parton International Airport.
A Change.org petition with over 155,000 signatures, citing Parton’s inclusive legacy, spurred the renaming.
Governor Lee said Parton’s life is woven into Tennessee’s fabric, guiding the airport’s new identity.
Airport president Doug Kreulen called the rename a reflection of Music City’s inclusive values.

Blindspot

Airport authority officials said the Metro Nashville Airport Authority’s policy normally bars naming facilities after someone who has been dead less than two years, and an exception is being considered at the September 17 meeting.
Within this story's sources, this policy detail appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The Port Authority opened the site in 1948 as New York International Airport, commonly called Idlewild, to ease LaGuardia congestion. After President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. secured a December 24 1963 vote to rename it John F. Kennedy International Airport. By 1954 the airport led world international traffic and served roughly 13 million passengers in 1963.

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Lee Renames Airport

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport announced on August 28, 2026 that the airport will be renamed Dolly Parton International Airport.
The proposal seeks a September 17 exception to the authority’s rule barring names of individuals deceased less than two years.
Governor Lee said he spoke with Dolly Parton’s team, which will continue talks.
Nashville Airport Authority estimates the renaming will cost about $10 million, funded from its annual budget.

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