Nashville airport board unanimously approves name change to honor Dolly Parton

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/12/nashville-airport-dolly-parton

The city’s mayor and Tennessee’s governor threw their support behind the name change last month

The Nashville airport is to be renamed after Dolly Parton, a board of commissioners voted on Friday, in tribute to the Smoky Mountain singer who is estimated to bring $1.8bn each year to Tennessee through her Dollywood theme park.

The decision ensures that Parton, who died last month at 80 years old, will be memorialized with her name on an airport, although the renaming process will take time to complete.

392 points · 26 comments · view on lemmy.world

26 Comments

Makhno@lemmy.world · 58 pts · 7d (7 replies)

everyone liked that

pwnicholson@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 7d (6 replies)

We like the idea. The people in Nashville are a little miffed that it'll cost more than $10 million. We'd rather see that go to transit or education (and I think Dolly would have too).

Just put up a statue in the airport like Austin has SRV and use the money for something better

anarcho_vroom@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 6d (3 replies)

If I had to guess, a part of this was an opportunity to get her name on it before it got named something stupid like Trump international by the state. I don't think people outside Tennessee realize that the state FUCKING HATES the city of Nashville.

pwnicholson@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 6d (2 replies)

The state already tried naming it Trump and it stalled when the city (who share control of the airport) didn't also pass it. Then an airport in Florida took the name, so that's moot now.

So it is a continuation of the "we can rename the airport something different" momentum, but Trump was a name isn't really a risk any more. Someone like Fred Thompson would be more likely until Dolly became an option.

anarcho_vroom@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 6d

You're 100% right. I'm just pointing out state-city dynamics that are probably unknown to non-residents.

historicaldocuments@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 6d

Then an airport in Florida took the name, so that’s moot now

Yes and no: it might not matter to the people of Nashville, but there are trademarks involved and potential licensing agreements:

redkid1324@sh.itjust.works · -3 pts · 6d (1 reply)

$10 mil wtf how are these things so expensive

pwnicholson@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 6d

Trunk about how many things say the name of the airport. Tons of road signs, which are not cheap. Internal signs in the building. External signs. Every shirt and name badge of every employee (hundreds of not 1000). All the software. Every airline has to update stuff.

4grams@awful.systems · 17 pts · 7d

This is a name change that I can get behind.

paraphrand@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 7d (1 reply)

So, Dollyport. Right?

pwnicholson@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 6d

The common joke is that now people will be "departing from D. Parton"

Jaderick@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 7d (2 replies)

There is now exactly one good thing about Tennessee, two if you can separate the beautiful landscape from the people.

njm1314@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 7d

I mean Dollywood is still open right? I worry about its future but as of now, still pretty kick ass.

ohulancutash@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 7d

And that it is many thousands of km away from where I am.

Marthirial@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 7d (2 replies)

Now rename a boobie habitat after her and this fucked up world just wrighted itself a bit.

lka1988@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 6d

Ah yes, the Dollybird

Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 6d

wrighted

If anything got Wrighted, it'd obviously be the airport.

HubertManne@piefed.social · 6 pts · 7d (2 replies)

I have come to the conlusion that we should not name anything after people no matter how cool they migh have been. Granted there is no way to stop it as certainly private companies will get naming rights or such and do it. Its not like she needs her name on an airport to be remembered.

Zier@fedia.io · 8 pts · 7d (1 reply)

Agreed. Naming public places after people should not be a thing. I also hate putting people on currency.

HubertManne@piefed.social · 5 pts · 6d

yeah its like we got to stop doing cults of personality. they can be in the history books if they make history or be known for thier works but things with no realtion to them should use neutral things. animals, buildings, whatever.

Sgt_choke_n_stroke@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 7d

Finally some good fucking news

Bwaz@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 6d

Ah, so in SOME cases we still wait till the honoree is no longer alive before naming things after them?

TheStaffmaster@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 7d

That's certainly... (••) ( ••)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■) ..."Uplifting" news!

pelespirit@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 7d (1 reply)
TheStaffmaster@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 7d

Not to take away from that, but i was rather expecting a cover to this song: https://youtu.be/0j6g_uUhH2c

spacegoat@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 6d

Dolly Parton Regional Kiosk

(DPRK)