Nashville airport to honour Dolly Parton with proposed name change
By Carla Feric, Press Association Entertainment Reporter
An airport in Nashville in Tennessee has proposed changing its name in honour of Dolly Parton, after the death of the country music superstar.
The US singer, famed for genre-defining hits including 9 To 5, I Will Always Love You and Jolene, died aged 80 following a “brief battle with cancer”.
Parton, who was born in Tennessee, was deeply associated with Nashville throughout her career and was inducted into its Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1986.
The legacy of the star could be immortalised by Nashville International Airport, which officials have proposed renaming in her honour.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee spoke to Parton’s team about the idea earlier this week, and her representatives are “touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation”.
The proposal is intended to create a “lasting tribute to her indelible legacy” and recognise “the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world”.
Mr Lee added: “Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state.
“From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her.
“At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith and kindness.”
The airport, known as BNA, is a major commercial hub which connects to domestic business hubs and international cities and has direct flights to more than 115 destinations, including Heathrow Airport in the UK.
Nashville is the capital and largest city of Tennessee and is famous worldwide as “Music City” for its deep-rooted history in country, rock, blues and gospel music.
It is also where Parton moved to after graduating from high school, and the city where she started her journey to international stardom by working as a songwriter before launching her recording career.
Doug Kreulen, the president and chief executive of Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said: “BNA is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community.
“Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life.
“She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status.
“At BNA, we share that commitment. Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care.
“That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world.”
Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life. She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status.Doug Kreulen
The suggestion follows an outpouring of calls to rename the airport as a tribute to the star, with a petition on Change.org reaching more than 155,000 signatures at the time of writing.
The proposal suggested by Mr Lee to rename the airport and the current naming policy of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) will be addressed at the organisation’s meeting on September 17.