Bipartisan leaders back renaming Nashville airport after Dolly Parton
Republican and Democratic officials in Nashville voted unanimously to start renaming the airport for Dolly Parton, despite ongoing disputes over airport control.
In Nashville, Tennessee, leaders from both parties set aside their rivalry over airport governance to endorse renaming the city's main airport for Dolly Parton. At a Friday meeting of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, which has separate state-controlled and city-controlled boards, a unanimous motion directed the airport CEO to start the renaming process. The push gained momentum after fan Lydia Popovich's petition, launched in 2025, surged to more than 175,000 signatures following Parton's death two weeks earlier.
Mayor Freddie O'Connell, represented by spokesperson Alex Apple, confirmed the city board's support, while state board member Stuart McWhorter, deputy to Governor Bill Lee, urged cooperation. Officials said the FAA would receive two positive votes, smoothing regulatory approval. The renaming could take a year or longer, requiring coordination with Parton's estate to determine merchandise profit sharing and other details.
Why it matters
Renaming the airport honors a cultural icon and shows rare bipartisan cooperation in a contested local infrastructure arena.
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