Fans Push to Rename Nashville Airport for Dolly Parton
New York Times · LC · trust 51/100
A surging online push to rename Nashville International Airport for the beloved Tennessean superstar could get snagged in bureaucracy and politics.
Listen · 5:52 min Share full article 17 “Who doesn’t want to be ‘departin’ from Parton’?” said one of the fans behind an online petition to rename Nashville International Airport for Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday. Credit... Chandan Khanna/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images By Christine Chung and Emily Cochrane
Tributes have poured out globally since Ms. Parton, the country music superstar, actress and philanthropist, died at 80 after a battle with cancer. She is especially beloved in Tennessee, her home state, where vigils, singalongs and tribute performances have taken place.
“We want the love, acceptance and good times that Dolly espoused to be what people experience when arriving in Tennessee for the first time, or coming home,” said Lydia Popovich , a 49-year-old comedian and lifelong fan. She started the petition last year with the photographer Dan Dion , and the number of signatures has more than doubled since Ms. Parton’s death.
“Dolly represented the best of Tennessee, and the best of what we can be as human beings,” Ms. Popovich added. “Who doesn’t want to be ‘departin’ from Parton’?”
The airport has already leaned into celebrating the city’s roster of music stars and celebrities, featuring outposts of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum , the Grand Ole Opry and some downtown music venues. The outpouring of support for a Dolly Parton rebranding has not gone unnoticed by local and state lawmakers.
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