Dolly Parton has some thoughts on bid to rename Nashville airport after her
Dolly Parton has some thoughts on bid to rename Nashville airport after her While at Music City's Belmont University on Tuesday, Dolly Parton answered questions about Nashville International Airport being renamed in her honor.
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New Dolly Parton musical to premiere at Nashville's Belmont University
Dolly Parton's new musical about her life, "Dolly: An Original Musical," will premiere at Belmont University this summer before heading to Broadway.
Of the many projects that country legend and cultural icon Dolly Parton has and will continue to embark on in the next few years, seeing Nashville International Airport named after her isn't likely to be one of them.
"I think that's probably more of a joke than anything," Parton told the Tennessean about Change.org petition signed by more than 2,600 people to put her name on BNA. The proposal was circulated after Tennessee state legislators pitched renaming the airport after President Donald Trump.
Parton discussed the potential of her name being officially tied to Music City's global travel hub exclusively backstage at Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday morning.
The Country Music and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was in Nashville to announce that the story of her life, "Dolly: An Original Musical," would make its world premiere at the Fisher Center in July and August 2025.
Parton joined the musical's director, Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher, onstage at the 1,700-plus-seat Fisher Center for the announcement, which members of the press and Belmont students attended.
The event also marked the reveal of "Dolly U," described as an "immersive educational experience that will begin with a focus on creating the musical's world premiere," presented by Parton, "Dolly: An Original Musical," CTK Enterprises, and Belmont University.
Departin' from D. Parton?
"I mean, it does sound like a lot of fun to say: "'Your flight is departin' from Nashville's D. Parton,'" Parton said. "But I couldn't imagine what (having my name attached to the airport could be) as an actual thing."
An alternative name for Nashville International Airport was pitched on Jan. 17, just days before President Donald Trump took office for his second term. Tennesseee State Representative Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, introduced a bill to the Tennessee House of Representatives suggesting it be called "Trump International Airport."
Four days later on Jan. 21, comedian Lydia Popovich started the online petition to honor the Tennessee native by putting Parton's name on airport signage.
"We request that the airport's name be changed to Dolly Parton International Airport to honor an icon who has given so much to our state and to the world," reads the petition. "We could all be Departin' from Parton!"
The petition cites Dolly's Imagination Library program, philanthropic efforts, and musical exploits as reasons for the honor. However, it fails to offer a funding plan for the potential rebrand.
Nashville International Airport's naming history
Nashville International Airport's current code is "BNA" for Berry Field Nashville, the original name.
The airport was named after Colonel Harry S. Berry, a World War I veteran who helped found the Nashville airport in 1937. Berry was also a University of Tennessee trustee and Tennessee's supervisor and administrator for the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The name was changed to Nashville International Airport in February 1988 to reflect its international air service goals and the establishment of an American Airlines hub.
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