Nashville Airport Renaming for Dolly Parton Moves Forward

The first step toward Nashville International Airport being renamed in honor of Dolly Parton was taken on Friday, when the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority unanimously voted to begin the process. According to local NBC affiliate WSMV, the authority said it had not determined a final name and that it will “work with appropriate parties to decide how Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.” More specific plans are expected to come in the near future. For now, the resolution can only move forward if the airport authority makes an exception to its current policy, which states that properties can only be renamed after people who have been dead for at least two years. It is also worth noting that State Rep. Todd Warner has said he plans to introduce legislation to rename the airport. The vote took place after a fan-led petition that was launched before Parton’s passing in late August regained traction and collected more than 175,000 signatures. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has expressed his support for the renaming alongside Mayor Freddie O’Connell and the Metro City Council. “Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a st...