Published: August 27, 2026 · 10:55 AM EDT
The Change.org campaign to rename Nashville International Airport gains massive momentum after Dolly Parton’s death as Tennessee lawmaker Todd Warner pledges to introduce legislation
A campaign to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton has surged past 100,000 signatures following the country music legend’s death.
The Change.org petition calling for Dolly Parton International Airport currently shows more than 129,000 verified signatures, with tens of thousands joining the campaign since Parton died on August 25, 2026. Importantly, the campaign did not begin after her death.
Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion launched the petition on January 21, 2025, arguing that Parton’s music, philanthropy and connection to Tennessee made her an appropriate figure to represent Nashville’s principal airport.
Following her death, however, support accelerated dramatically.
View and sign the official Change.org petition:
Rename Nashville International Airport to Dolly Parton International Airport
The campaign has also moved beyond online signatures. On August 26, Tennessee House Representative Todd Warner, who represents District 92, responded directly to the petition and said:
“Yes I will definitely introduce legislation to rename the BNA airport Dolly Parton International Airport!”
Nashville Metro Council member Russ Bradford has separately said he intends to sponsor a resolution asking the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to consider renaming BNA.
Bradford also provided an important clarification: a Metro Council resolution would express support for the proposal, but the final decision on changing the airport’s name rests with the Airport Authority.
That means the petition’s growing support does not itself rename Nashville International Airport, and no official name change has been approved.
The original 2025 petition cited Parton’s long relationship with Tennessee alongside her work through programs including the Imagination Library.
Its organizers asked that Nashville International Airport become Dolly Parton International Airport as a permanent acknowledgment of her contributions to music and philanthropy. Following her death, Popovich and Dion updated the campaign, saying tens of thousands of additional supporters had joined and renewed their effort to obtain an official name change.
Billboard reported on the rapidly expanding campaign following Parton’s death.
ROCKUM: DOLLY PARTON ARCHIVE
Rockum documented Parton’s death on August 25:
Read: Dolly Parton Dies at 80: 1946–2026
Only days earlier, Rockum also reported on 82 new international Gold, Platinum and Diamond certifications awarded across her catalog, including Diamond status for “Jolene” and “9 to 5”:
Read: Dolly Parton Earns 82 New Global Gold, Platinum and Diamond Certifications
The proposal to rename Nashville’s airport now represents one of the first major public campaigns seeking a permanent memorial following her death.
Whether BNA ultimately becomes Dolly Parton International Airport remains undecided.
For now, the petition has moved from a relatively small campaign launched in 2025 to one attracting more than 100,000 supporters and direct responses from Tennessee and Nashville officials.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
SOURCE: Change.org / Billboard
Listen to Dolly Parton’s “My Tennessee Mountain Home” below:
