Tennessee Representative to Propose Renaming Nashville Airport for Dolly Parton

State Representative Todd Warner plans to introduce legislation during the next legislative session to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton. The move follows the death of the country music icon on August 25, 2026, at age 80 after a battle with cancer.

Warner, who previously attempted to rename the airport after Donald Trump, stated he received significant public feedback favoring Parton. He believes the bill will gain bipartisan support due to her philanthropic contributions, specifically the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

The legislative push coincides with a Change.org petition launched on January 21, 2025, by Nashville residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion. Originally created as a counter-proposal to the Tennessee General Assembly's initiative to honor Donald Trump, the petition saw a massive surge in support after Parton's passing. Signatures grew from 54,000 on August 25 to over 117,000 by August 27.

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow has publicly endorsed the effort. While the petition lacks the legal authority to change the airport's name, the commitment from Warner provides a formal legislative path for the tribute.