Dolly Parton gets unanimous approval to have Nashville International Airport RENAMED after her in historic move

Nashville International Airport is to be renamed after country legend Dolly Parton as she will posthumously earn one of the biggest honors in her home state.

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board of commissioners unanimously voted, 6-0, to begin changing the airport's name to honor the music icon who passed away aged 80 on August 25 following a brief battle with an undisclosed cancer. 

Though a final name is still yet to be determined, once finalized it is a history-making move as Dolly would become the first woman to have her name on the top 50 busiest airports in the United States.

The move comes after a petition started by Parton fan Lydia Popovich which had collected more than 175K signatures after the singer's death.

The airport authority released a statement announcing the news which read: 'While a final name has not yet been determined, we are working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.'

They described the vote as 'the first step in a multifaceted process' as they said that they expect to share more detailed plans in the next few months.

The final name will be decided by airport leaders in addition to the Dollywood Foundation which is a nonprofit that she had established in 1988.

The authority also had to modify its existing naming policy, which generally calls for airport properties to be named after individuals who have been deceased for at least two years.

Parton had famously rejected efforts to honor her name while she was still alive as back in 2021 she had to push back on a petitioned bill to erect a monument of her in Tennessee.

Now former state representative John Mark Windle introduced legislation in January 2021 to create and design a statue of the songstress to honor her legacy and contributions, after more than 25,000 people signed a petition to replace a Confederate statue with her likeness.

Though admittedly 'humbled' by the offer, Parton spoke out on social media weeks later in February 2021 as she politely declined the idea from 'any and all consideration', adding that it did not seem 'appropriate.'

'I want to thank Tennessee legislature for their consideration of a bill to erect a statue of me on the Capitol grounds. I am honored and humbled by their intention but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration.

'Given all that is going on in the world, I don't think it's appropriate at this time. I hope, though, that somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I'm gone if you still feel I deserve it, then I'm certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean. In the meantime, I'll continue to try to do good work to make this great state proud,' she wrote at the time.

It is an interesting time for the renaming news to come out as days ago her sister Stella Parton has claimed no one in Nashville has offered her condolences in the weeks since the country icon's death.

Stella, 77, told Gayle King in a wide-ranging CBS Mornings interview shared on Thursday that the music community in Tennessee has been silent as she mourns her sister.

'I haven't heard from anybody in Nashville since my sister passed away,' she said. 'I haven't had one condolence from anyone – anybody that I know, entertainers that I know. Nobody. Not one.'

She speculated that it might be due to politics as she said: 'I'm assuming it might be because of my political, you know, activism on social media. I don't know.'

Contrarily, Dolly was famously mum when it came to sharing her stance on politics. 

But Stella, who is also a singer, said the Jolene hitmaker definitely had her opinions, but 'would never have offended anyone.'

She explained about her older sibling: 'She never would have done that. She was smarter than me. You know, I tell everything. And I like everybody knowing what I think about it. Not her!'

And she noted that the I Will Always Love You singer was keen to keep her political views under wraps, stating: 'She's a good businesswoman.' 

The country music legend's death shocked the world and came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her well-being.

 Those close to the singer said she had both become increasingly reclusive and secretive about her own ill health in recent months.

On August 25, Parton's representatives revealed she died following a 'brief battle with cancer' in a statement to People, though they did not disclose what type of cancer it was.

The star's death was first confirmed that day in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also acted as her head of security.

She died four days after being hospitalized August 21 at Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.

Fellow stars paid tribute following the news, including Hillary Clinton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Khloe Kardashian and more.

President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Parton and ordered American flags lowered nationwide for one week in her honor.

Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades. Her famous hits include Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You.