# Dolly Parton may get her own airport

> Nashville's warring city and state factions agree on one thing: the airport should carry Dolly Parton's name.
- Title: Dolly Parton may get her own airport · The Banner | Shortify
- Summary: Nashville's warring city and state factions agree on one thing: the airport should carry Dolly Parton's name. Parton would be the first woman named on one of…
- Keywords: dolly parton, nashville, tennessee politics, airports, country music, news, local, Dolly, Parton, may, get, own
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/culture/music/dolly-parton-nashville-international-airport-DDEW2EIYQNFVRH32HEYWWAAIPM
- Author: Travis Loller, Associated Press
- Published: 2026-09-12T12:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dolly parton, nashville, tennessee politics, airports, country music, news, local
## One thing they agree on
Tennessee's Republican state government and Nashville's Democratic city government are fighting over who controls the airport. Both want it renamed for Dolly Parton.
## A first for a woman
No woman's name currently appears on any of America's 50 busiest airports. Renaming Nashville International for Parton would change that.
## She kept saying no
Parton turned down honors throughout her life, including a 2021 bill to put her statue on the Capitol grounds. She asked lawmakers to withdraw it.

> somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I'm gone if you still feel I deserve it
## 175,000 signatures
Superfan Lydia Popovich started a renaming petition in 2025. After Parton died last month at 80, it caught fire and passed 175,000 names.
## The board voted yes
On Friday the state-controlled airport authority unanimously told its CEO to start the renaming. It could take a year, and involves negotiating merchandise profits with Parton's estate.
## Two boards, two votes
A 2023 partisan split left Nashville with two rival airport authorities and years of court fights. Both now back the change, so the FAA gets two yes votes.

> The FAA's going to get two votes from two boards, both in favor
## The best of Tennessee
Born poor in the Smoky Mountains foothills, Parton crossed every political and generational line. Popovich was in tears after the vote.

> She's the best of Tennessee. She's the best of the humans on the planet.
## Key takeaway

Parton would be the first woman named on one of America's 50 busiest airports, and the only thing two feuding governments in Nashville can agree on.