NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville International Airport would be renamed for Dolly Parton under a proposal announced Friday by Tennessee’s governor.
Gov. Bill Lee proposed the name change just days after the country music icon died Tuesday of cancer at age 80. It echoes the wishes of more than 150,000 Parton fans who have signed an online petition to rename the airport.
"At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness,” Lee said in a statement.
Lee said he’s already discussed the idea with representatives for Parton.
Born in poverty in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Parton became an icon whose popularity crossed generational, geographic and political boundaries. In addition to writing and recording hit songs such as “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” she starred in Hollywood films including “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias.”
The change could require the Metro Nashville Airport Authority to revisit its naming policy. The policy currently states that airport properties should only be named for people who have been dead for at least two years.
The governor’s office said his proposal and the naming policy will be discussed by the airport authority at its meeting Sept. 17.
Flowers, cards and balloons are seen at a memorial outside the home of the late Dolly Parton, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Brentwood, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A plane flies over Nashville, Tenn., towing a banner reading “change.org/DollyPartonAirport” as part of an effort to rename the airport after Dolly Parton, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
NEW YORK (AP) — Dolly Parton was many things: A country star, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, theme park enthusiast, Christian who centered acceptance in her personal theology and so much more. But for many, her death Tuesday has served as a reminder that at the heart of her legacy is her role as a songwriter. And around the world, people are streaming her songs en masse.
According to evolving data released early Friday afternoon by the industry data and analytics company Luminate, audio and video streams of Parton's discography skyrocketed 2,458% on the day of her death, compared to Monday — climbing from 1.2 million to 30.5 million in the U.S. And by Wednesday, that number rose to 46.3 million.
Worldwide, her audio and video streams jumped 1,549%, from 2.5 million on Monday to 41.8 million Tuesday.
And on Wednesday, her on-demand audio streams jumped to 79.7 million, making her the most streamed artist, globally, on that date.
In the U.S., 10 songs led the charge:
1. “Jolene” grew from over 196.2K streams on Monday to 3.3 million Tuesday and 4 million Wednesday.
2. “9 to 5” jumped from 208.6K on Monday to 3.0 million on Tuesday and 3.6 million on Wednesday.
3. “Islands in the Stream,” her duet with the late Kenny Rogers, climbed from 165.9K on Monday to 2.1 million Tuesday and 2.9 million Wednesday.
4. “I Will Always Love You,” Parton's performance of her own classic, a song that was later made famous by Whitney Houston's rendition, rose from 64.9K streams on Monday to 2.0 million Tuesday and 2.8 million Wednesday.
5. “Here You Come Again” followed, moving from 48.7K streams Monday to 1.5 million Tuesday to 2.1 million Wednesday.
6. Then there was “Coat of Many Colors,” with 28.9K streams Monday to 1.3 million Tuesday and 1.9 million Wednesday.
7. “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That?” climbed from 22.1K Monday to 827K Tuesday and 1.3 million Wednesday.
8. “There Was Jesus,” her 2019 duet with Christian singer Zach Williams, rose from 85.2K streams Monday to 635.1K Tuesday and 682.0K Wednesday.
9. “My Tennessee Mountain Home” increased from 5.8K Monday to 562.3K Tuesday and 1.1 million Wednesday.
10. “Tyrant,” Parton's collaboration with Beyoncé from Bey's Grammy winning 2024 album “Cowboy Carter,” jumped from 47.8K Monday to 559.2K Tuesday and 755.5K Wednesday.
Sales for such Parton-related books as the memoir “Dolly Parton, Songteller” My Life in Lyrics” and a picture story based on her classic song “Coat of Many Colors” were also soaring. As of early Friday afternoon, three Parton books were in the top 5 on Amazon.com ’s bestseller list.
Curious to hear more Parton? Check out The Associated Press' official playlist — from her country songs that challenge traditional gender dynamics to the greatest ballad ever committed to record — and read the stories behind them, here.
A portrait of the late Dolly Parton surrounded by flowers and cards in a memorial sits outside her home Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Brentwood, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
