Daijiworld Media Network - Nashville
Nashville, Aug 29: Nashville International Airport could soon be renamed in honour of late country music icon and philanthropist Dolly Parton, following a proposal announced by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the airport authority on Friday.
Parton, a Tennessee native who rose from a rural upbringing to become one of the world's most celebrated country music stars, died on Tuesday at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
The proposal aims to create a lasting tribute to Parton's legacy and the generations of people she inspired in Tennessee and around the world.
Lee said he spoke with Parton's representatives about the proposal earlier this week and that they expressed their appreciation for the initiative.
"Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state," Lee said, adding that the airport was an appropriate place to honour her because it is where Tennessee welcomes visitors from across the world.
He said naming the airport after Parton would celebrate her music, generosity, faith and kindness and reflect the state's affection for its "favorite daughter".
The proposal is scheduled to be considered at a Metro Nashville Airport Authority meeting on September 17. If approved, the airport would receive a new name honouring the singer, songwriter and philanthropist.
A petition calling for the airport to be renamed after Parton was launched more than a year before her death and had gathered more than 160,000 signatures by Friday night. The campaign has also received support from members of the Nashville City Council and the Tennessee state legislature.
Parton's death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, fellow entertainers and political leaders across the United States and beyond.
Widely known as the "Queen of Country", Parton built a decades-long career spanning music, film, television and business. She was also renowned for her philanthropy, particularly through the Dollywood Foundation and its Imagination Library programme, which provides free books to children.
The proposed airport renaming would add another prominent tribute to Parton's enduring connection with Tennessee and her global cultural legacy.