Will guests flying out of Nashville’s international airport, now called BNA, be departing from Parton anytime soon? Maybe.
Nearly 50,000 people have signed a Change.org petition to rename BNA to Dolly Parton International Airport officially.
“As proud citizens of Tennessee, we are motivated by our deep-rooted admiration for the national treasure and Tennessee legend, Dolly Parton,” the Change.org petition reads. “She is not only a celebrated artist who encourages love, acceptance, and goodwill through her music, but also a philanthropist, known for her countless contributions to society.”
Comedian Lydia Popovich launched the petition on January 21. She cited Parton’s contributions to society, including her Imagination Library and generous donations to help flood victims. The Sevier County, Tennessee, native donated $1 million to Hurricane Helene relief efforts last fall. Then added another $1 million donation to The Mountain Ways Foundation.
While announcing the donation, Parton admitted she knew people had questioned her absence in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
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Dolly Parton Thought Renaming BNA After Her was a Joke
“I’ve been like everybody else, trying to absorb everything going on, trying to figure out all the best ways to do this,” she said. “We’re all here to mend these broken hearts, and that’s what I’m doing here. So, I really, really wish that we were all together for another reason.
Even with decades of well-documented generosity to her credit, Parton didn’t take the idea of sharing her famous name with the airport seriously.
“I think that’s probably more of a joke than anything,” Parton told the Tennessean. “I mean, it does sound like a lot of fun to say: ‘Your flight is departin’ from Nashville’s D. Parton.’ But I couldn’t imagine what (having my name attached to the airport) as an actual thing.”
Popovich started the online petition to add Parton’s name to the airport days after Tennessee State Representative Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, introduced a bill to the Tennessee House of Representatives to rename BNA “Trump International Airport.” Warner removed the bill for consideration in February. However, supporters have since revived the Trump bill. Now, Tennesseans are waiting to see whether factions for Parton or Trump will win naming rights.
Almost 50,000 People Have Signed Dolly Parton Petition
The Change.org petition for Parton reads: As proud citizens of Tennessee, we are motivated by our deep-rooted admiration for the national treasure and Tennessee legend, Dolly Parton. She is not only a celebrated artist who encourages love, acceptance, and goodwill through her music but also a philanthropist known for her countless contributions to society. It is only fitting that an institution as significant as Nashville International Airport carries the name of such a remarkable woman.
Those who sign the Change.org petition can also donate money to help fund BNA’s potential rebrand.
Comments supporting Parton on the Change.org page include people who share personal stories about their children reading the free books from Imagination Library and how her financial donations in times of disaster changed their lives.
A comment from “Dan” reads: “Dolly is not only a Tennessee but a world icon. She represents what this country is supposed to be…peace, acceptance and love.”
(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
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