Nashville’s airport will be renamed after Dolly Parton, the board of commissioners voted Friday, in honor of the Smoky Mountain singer who is estimated to bring $1.8 billion annually to Tennessee through her Dollywood theme park.
The decision ensures that Parton, who died last month at age 80, will be memorialized in her name at the airport, although the renaming process will take time.
During her lifetime, Parton did not think that the idea that arose last year would come to fruition.
“I think it’s more of a joke than anything else,” Parton told The Tennessean. “I mean, it does sound like a lot of fun to say, ‘Your flight is leaving Nashville D Parton.’
The renaming move gained momentum last month when Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee supported the name change.
“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement, recognizing what he called her “volunteer spirit.”
“It’s only fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and welcome travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith and kindness,” Lee added.
After airport commissioners voted in favor of the change, Lee said it was “an important step to honor her wonderful legacy” as “Dolly has always helped the world fall in love with Tennessee.”
The name change would likely be costly, requiring new signage throughout the 4,500-acre (1,700-hectare) property, as well as updates to airport monuments, merchandise, shuttle buses, uniforms, business cards, legal contracts and leases.
Although the name of the new airport in her honor has not yet been chosen, Tennessee columnist Alejandro Ramos said last month that the case for the change is “more than just music” because of her contributions to the state of Tennessee and to international literacy through her philanthropic library, the Imagination Library.
“Parton’s songs helped make Tennessee recognizable around the world. But her most profound legacy may be what she did with her subsequent success. She amassed the kind of fame, wealth and influence few have ever experienced. She then repeatedly channeled those resources outward,” Ramos wrote.
In a statement, the Nashville Metropolitan Airport Authority said: “While a final name has not yet been determined, we are working closely with relevant parties to carefully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.”