dailynewsnblog
A petition calling for Nashville International Airport (BNA) to be renamed after Dolly Parton has surged past 130,000 signatures following the death of the Tennessee-born global music icon. The Change.org campaign, which was originally launched in January 2025, had remained a relatively small grassroots effort before receiving a dramatic increase in support after Parton’s death on August 25.
Supporters want the airport to become “Dolly Parton International Airport,” arguing that the singer’s connection to Tennessee extends well beyond her music career. The proposal now has backing from Nashville Councilman Russ Bradford, who supports a resolution asking the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to consider the change. Other state politicians have expressed interest in introducing legislation supporting the renaming effort.
A Petition Gains Momentum
The original petition was created by Tennessee residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion on January 21, 2025. Its organizers argued that Parton’s musical influence, philanthropy, and longstanding connection to Tennessee made her an appropriate namesake for the state’s largest international gateway. Before the latest surge, the campaign had accumulated about 53,000 verified signatures.
Parton’s death transformed the campaign’s reach. Tens of thousands of additional supporters signed within a short period, pushing the total beyond 100,000 and subsequently above 130,000. The petition’s renewed visibility has also attracted support from prominent figures, including musicians Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris. Organizers point to her charitable work, particularly the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides books to children, as evidence of her broader influence. The petition describes her as a figure whose impact reaches beyond entertainment and into education and philanthropy.
Nashville Officials Consider The Proposal
The growing public campaign has begun attracting attention from elected officials, although a petition alone cannot change the airport’s name. Russ Bradford, a member of the Nashville Metro Council, has said he supports a resolution asking the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to consider renaming BNA in Parton’s honor. He emphasized that the council’s role would be to express support rather than make the final decision.
Tennessee Representative Todd Warner has separately indicated that he intends to introduce legislation supporting the proposed name. Warner had previously been involved in efforts concerning another possible airport renaming, but has now publicly backed the Parton proposal. However, there is a gap between political support and an actual name change that leaves several steps before the proposal could become reality. The airport is operated by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, meaning the authority would ultimately need to consider the request.
BNA Already Carries A Tennessee Connection
The airport’s existing name also has historical roots that would be displaced by a new designation. Nashville International Airport is commonly identified by its three-letter code, BNA, which comes from Berry Field Nashville Airport. The name traces back to Colonel Harry Smith Berry, a Tennessee political and civic figure associated with the airport’s early history. Changing the public-facing name would extend to airline reservations, transportation systems, maps, government documents, and travel information. BNA would most likely remain the airport’s identifying code even if its formal name changed.
For supporters, however, the potential value lies in giving Nashville’s primary aviation gateway and 
Southwest Airlines focus point an identity immediately associated with the city and Tennessee’s entertainment culture. Parton’s name could provide an unusually recognizable introduction to visitors arriving in Music City, while also creating a permanent tribute to one of the state’s most internationally recognized figures. Whether the proposal advances will depend on airport authorities and, where applicable, state lawmakers rather than the petition’s signature count alone. Still, the campaign’s rapid growth has elevated what began as a grassroots idea into a proposal receiving formal political attention.
