Nashville’s airport is officially on its way to becoming Dolly Parton International Airportt after the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the name change Friday.
The board voted 6-0 to change the airport’s naming policy, clearing the way for Nashville International Airport to take on Parton’s name. BNA said the vote approved the name-change proposal, but the airport has not officially changed its name yet.
The airport will keep its BNA designation in honor of Col. Harry S. Berry, who helped build the airport in 1939.
The airport board will now handle the administrative process needed to make the name change official, including working with the Federal Aviation Administration.
It’s official! The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously, 6 to 0, to modify our existing naming policy, marking the first step toward renaming Nashville International Airport® in honor of Dolly Parton. pic.twitter.com/e1N7oF6PBo
— Fly Nashville (@Fly_Nashville) September 11, 2026
The name change is expected to cost between $8 million and $10 million, with funding expected to come from Metro Nashville, the state and airport resources.
The full transition is expected to take about six months to a year, including new signage and other related work. Once completed, the airport will officially be known as Dolly Parton International Airport while continuing to use BNA.
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