Following the news of Dolly Parton’s passing, a petition surfaced online, aiming to rename Tennessee’s Nashville International Airport after the iconic ‘9 to 5’ singer. Within hours of being published online, the campaign got significant public attention and collected more than 100,000 signatures.
Petition to rename Nashville Airport gets traction
The petition to honour Dolly Parton and her legacy in the entertainment industry by renaming the airport recently gained significant traction online. The campaign, originally started by Tennessee residents Lydia Popovich and Dan Dion on Jan. 21, 2025, suddenly gained a boost hours after the news of Parton’s passing was shared online by her nephew. According to the petition, the residents requested that the airport be renamed ‘Dolly Parton International Airport.’ For context, the airport’s current name commemorates Col. Harry Smith Berry, a Tennessee soldier who helped create the initial airfield.PEOPLE reported that the two residents issued a joint statement after the campaign gained traction following Parton’s passing and crossed 100,000 signatures within the first few hours. They shared, “Since her passing, tens of thousands of additional supporters have visited and signed this petition. The outpouring of support has reinvigorated our mission. Dolly deserves to be remembered and celebrated. What a wonderful way to share her light and magic across Tennessee and the world.”
Sheryl Crow backs the petition to rename the Nashville Airport
While many fans supported the initiative, singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and guitarist Sheryl Suzanne Crow also lent her support to the cause. In a video message posted on the campaign host’s website, the celebrity backed the campaign to honour Dolly Parton’s legacy. The video showed a clip of one of her recent interviews with Katie Couric, where she said, “People are talking about trying to get the Nashville airport, which I think is called BNA – I don’t even know what it stands for – to change to the Dolly Parton airport. Which I’m like, ‘Yes! I think we should.’” Crow worked with Parton on her 2023 song, ‘You’re No Good.’
About Dolly Parton
The Grammy-winning icon left for her heavenly abode on August 25. Her nephew Bryan Seaver announced the news in an emotional video shared on her social media channels. The singer’s representatives also confirmed the news in a statement given to PEOPLE, revealing that she had been battling cancer for some time.Her funeral procession is reportedly going to be held in Nashville in the coming days. Not many details were shared online; however, the report confirmed that the family is keeping the ceremony small, allowing only family members and close friends to attend.
