04 / 10
Tennessee governor proposes Dolly Parton airport name
Nashville’s airport authority will consider naming the state’s largest airport for Dolly Parton.
What happened
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee proposed renaming Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton following her death. The airport authority and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell support considering the change. The proposal follows a public petition and would make the airport a memorial to the singer’s connection with Tennessee and country music.
Numbers
- 26 millionPassengers used the airport last year — Tennessee’s largest airport
- 163,000-plusSignatures on the renaming petition — Petition began before her death
- Two yearsPossible wait under airport rules — Rule may affect timing
Questions
- Who decides on the airport name?
- The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority will discuss the proposal, while further approvals are required before the airport can be renamed.
- Why was Nashville chosen for tribute?
- Nashville is closely associated with country music and serves as a main gateway to Tennessee, Parton’s home state.
- How many people use this airport?
- More than 26 million passengers used Nashville International Airport last year, making a name change visible to domestic and international travellers.
- What could delay the change?
- Airport rules may prevent naming an airport after someone until two years after their death, though the reporting gives no final timetable.
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The catch
The authority has not approved the change, and a two-year naming rule may apply.
No completion date was announced.