Overview
- The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted unanimously 6-0 on Friday, Sept. 11 to modify its naming policy and authorize the airport president to start implementing a renaming for Dolly Parton.
- The board waived its prior two-year posthumous rule as the first formal step and said a final official name has not yet been chosen.
- Airport leaders are working directly with the Parton family and the Dollywood Foundation to decide the name, merchandising and estate arrangements.
- The change must clear additional approvals including an FAA review and will require a phased rebrand with multi‑million dollar costs; a 2025 assessment of a previous renaming effort estimated roughly $10.3 million for a major overhaul.
- The move has broad bipartisan backing even as control of the airport has been politically contested, and officials expect months to a year or more before a full implementation and ceremony while the BNA airport code would remain unchanged.