The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) voted unanimously to begin the process of renaming Nashville International Airport (BNA) in honor of the late Tennessee music legend Dolly Parton.
The 6-0 vote came during the MNAA Board of Commissioners’ special meeting Friday, marking the first formal step toward changing the airport’s name following an August proposal from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and BNA officials.
In a statement following the meeting, MNAA said that a final name has not yet been determined, and described Friday’s vote as a “first step” in a process to officially change the airport’s name to honor Parton.
It's official! The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously, 6 to 0, to modify our existing naming policy, marking the first step toward renaming Nashville International Airport® in honor of Dolly Parton. pic.twitter.com/e1N7oF6PBo
— Fly Nashville (@Fly_Nashville) September 11, 2026
“While a final name has not yet been determined, we are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated,” the airport authority said. “This vote represents the first step in a multifaceted process. In the coming months, we anticipate having more definitive plans to share regarding the next steps and implementation.”
The board-adopted resolution, MNAA Resolution No. 2026-10, directs President and CEO Doug Kreulen to immediately begin the process of effectuating the name change in consultation with, and subject to approval from, Parton’s estate and other appropriate entities.
The measure also directs MNAA to create a timeline and implementation plan covering the necessary approvals and determine the estimated costs associated with renaming the airport.
Under MNAA Policy 33-006, the airport authority’s board of commissioners has sole authority over changes to the names of buildings, spaces, facilities, or streets under its jurisdiction.
Friday’s vote follows Lee and BNA’s announcement of their intent to rename the airport in Parton’s honor shortly after her death at age 80.
Lee previously said Parton’s life was “forever woven into the fabric of our state” and described the airport as a fitting location to honor her legacy because it is where Tennessee welcomes visitors from around the world.
Parton died peacefully in Nashville on August 25 following what her team described as a “brief battle with cancer.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Dolly Parton” by Fly Nashville.
