Tennessee is showing love for their late country music queen by renewing a proposal to rename their airport in her honour.
In a joint statement released by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Nashville International Airport (BNA), the governor expressed, “Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state. From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her.”
“At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favourite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
“BNA is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community,” said Doug Kreulen, president and CEO, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. “Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life. She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status.”
“At BNA, we share that commitment. Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care. That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world.”
The name change was proposed last year in the wake of a proposal to rename the airport for President Trump. The number of signatures on the petition exploded after her death.
Dolly Parton passed away on 25 August after a brief battle with cancer. She was 80.
