Nashville International Airport adopted its current name in 1988, but nearly four decades later, that name is set to change. Local officials are taking steps to rename the state’s busiest airport in honor of a recently deceased Tennessee legend: the Queen of Country herself, Dolly Parton. While there are a few remaining hurdles to clear, authorities have been working “9 to 5” to make this name change a reality. Here’s a closer look at the details.

A Brief History of BNA

Nashville International Airport (BNA) opened on June 12, 1937. It was initially named Berry Field to honor Tennessee’s Works Progress Administration administrator Colonel Harry S. Berry, who oversaw the project. That explains why the current airport code starts with the letter “B.” The airport served as a strategic military airfield during World War II, before undergoing significant renovations in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Nashville was the nation’s 25th-busiest airport last year. Between 2015 and 2025, the volume of passengers passing through BNA grew by 119.7%, representing the largest percentage growth of any airport in the top 25 busiest airports in America. The airport welcomed a record 26.7 million flyers during the 2026 fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).

Airport of Many Names

In September 2026, the Board of Commissioners at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority unanimously voted 6-0 to approve naming Nashville’s biggest airport after Dolly Parton, who passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. The iconic entertainer, businesswoman, and philanthropist was born in eastern Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains in 1946, before moving to Nashville in 1964 to pursue a career in country music. If the name change is enacted, BNA will become the first major U.S. airport named after a woman.

The effort to rename BNA in honor of Parton unofficially began with an online petition in January 2025 and gained renewed momentum after Parton’s passing in August. So far, more than 175,000 people have signed the petition, and the idea has also received support from politicians such as Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

The board typically has a policy requiring a two-year waiting period before naming a facility in a person’s honor, but it decided to bypass that period in Parton’s case. Still, the name change won’t occur immediately. There are several remaining hurdles to clear, such as figuring out the exact name and funding details — previous estimates put the cost of a potential name change for the Nashville airport at over $10 million.

A statement issued by the MNAA said, “While a final name has not yet been determined, we are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.” It added, “In the coming months, we anticipate having more definitive plans to share regarding the next steps and implementation.” 

Other Airports With Famous Names

Once the name change takes effect, Dolly Parton will join a short list of prestigious actors and musicians who have airports named in their honor. Currently, the only major airport in the U.S. named after a musician is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. It was named after the famed trumpeter and New Orleans native in August 2001 to posthumously celebrate Armstrong’s 100th birthday. Airports named after actors include Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California; John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California; and Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Outside the U.S., Liverpool John Lennon Airport in England was the first airport in the United Kingdom to be named after a person; it was rechristened in 2001 in honor of the former Beatle and Liverpool native. Elsewhere, several famous composers lend their names to airports, such as Salzburg Airport W. A. Mozart in Austria (named for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) and Warsaw Chopin Airport in Poland, named after Frederic Chopin.