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It’s a rare occasion when both the GOP and Democratic officials show unity, but it seems Dolly Parton was one of the rare cultural figures to bring everyone together in the US. And that has been proven once again.
In an uncommon display of bipartisan agreement, especially for the Republican-dominated state government and Democrat-controlled city government in Tennessee, both sides have agreed to rename Nashville International Airport after much-missed singer Dolly Parton.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board of commissioners voted 6-0 to start the process of changing the airport’s name in memory of the late country icon. The change will make Parton the first woman whose name adorns one of America’s 50 busiest airports.
Nashville Airport Authority has said that while a name hasn’t yet been finalised, they were “working closely with the appropriate parties to thoughtfully determine how Dolly Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated”.
They went on to describe the vote as “the first step in a multifaceted process” and said more detailed plans would be shared in the coming months. Airport officials said the change could take a year or more, and the final name will be decided jointly by airport leaders and the Dollywood Foundation, the non-profit the singer established in 1988.
The push to rename the airport predates Parton’s death, with a petition to rename the airport “Dolly Parton International Airport” launched in early 2025. In the wake of her death on 25 August, the idea drew further support from across the political spectrum. Republican governor Bill Lee proposed the change shortly after her death, and Nashville’s Democratic mayor, Freddie O’Connell, went on to support the initiative.
“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,” Lee said in an initial statement.
Dolly Parton died last month at the age of 80, following a “brief battle with cancer”. Since her death, there have been countless tributes from fans, as well as testimonies from celebrities and public figures.
Recently, her sister, Stella Parton, has expressed that her and her family have experienced “incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers” following the icon’s death.
“Every human experiences pain and loss in life and my family is no different,” wrote Stella. “Sadly, because of the way our lives have been lived in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers. There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted everyday and it’s been challenging to absorb and or ignore.”
She went on to criticise “those who are in the business of exploiting the loss and tragedies of others on a daily basis” while noting they will eventually “move on to the next stampede of endless misinformation.”
From her comments regarding “AI and endless garbage” and “endless misinformation”, there’s a chance that she was referring to comments made by Donald Trump, as well as an AI image he posted on Truth Social in which he is seen arm-in-arm with Dolly. The AI image was condemned as “narcissistic”, “disgusting” and “soulless”.
Stella Parton has urged fans to show more compassion in the wake of her sister’s death, reminding fans of the “positive influence” her sister had on others.
“Use my sister’s life as an example for tolerance and respect toward others,” Stella wrote. “It’s not about the most clever comments, fake AI garbage, or snarky tweets.”
“At the end of the day or the end of your life, how will you feel about yourself? It’s not about what other individuals you will never meet think of you.”