Nashville airport to be renamed after Dolly Parton

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) voted 6-0 on Friday to honor the country music legend by changing the name of Nashville International Airport.

"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," the MNAA said in a statement.

Parton died at the age of 80 on August 25 after a brief battle with cancer.

She built one of the most successful careers in music, earning 11 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, while selling more than 100 million records worldwide.

Songs such as “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You” helped establish Parton as a major force in country music and one of the genre's most commercially successful female performers.

Her distinctive appearance and upbeat public persona also became central to her image. Her big blonde hairstyles, colourful outfits and energetic performances made her instantly recognisable, while her appeal extended far beyond the traditional country music audience.

Parton's career also went well beyond recording music. She appeared in films, hosted television programmes and established Dollywood, a theme park in Tennessee that has grown into one of the state's major tourist attractions.

Much of her popularity was also linked to her ability to remain connected to ordinary people. Raised in a large family with very limited financial means in rural Tennessee, Parton frequently used her influence and wealth to support causes close to her heart.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she contributed $1 million to vaccine research at Vanderbilt University in 2020. The donation supported research that later became connected to the development of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine.

Education and children's literacy have been another major focus of her philanthropy. Through her literacy initiative, Parton provided books to young children in the United States and several other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.

She also supported students from her native Tennessee by providing scholarships to high school graduates in the county where she was born.

Her connection to the area remains strong. Local authorities honoured her with a life-sized statue outside the county courthouse. However, Parton rejected a separate proposal for a statue in Nashville in 2021, arguing that there were more important issues deserving attention at the time.