Calls to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton have gathered momentum following the death of the country music legend at 80, as tributes continue to pour in from across the United States and beyond.
A petition seeking to rename the airport in Parton’s honour has attracted nearly 90,000 signatures, with more than 30,000 people reportedly adding their names in the 24 hours following her death.
The campaign has also won support from prominent figures, including singer Sheryl Crow. Tennessee state Rep. Todd Warner has said he intends to introduce legislation proposing that Nashville International Airport be renamed Dolly Parton International Airport.
The growing campaign reflects the extraordinary affection for Parton, whose career spanned music, film, television and philanthropy and made her one of the most recognisable figures in American culture.
Celebrities mourn country music icon
Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
Her death was confirmed in a video statement by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who served as her head of security for more than two decades. Seaver said Parton had asked him years earlier to make the announcement when the time came.
“As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven’t truly felt it until now,” Seaver said. “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”
The announcement triggered an immediate wave of tributes from musicians, actors, former co-stars, public officials and millions of fans.
President Donald Trump described Parton’s death as a “true loss for millions of people” and ordered American flags to be lowered for one week.
Miley Cyrus mourns her godmother
Among the most personal tributes came from Miley Cyrus, Parton’s goddaughter.
Cyrus, writing on Instagram on August 26, said the loss of her “Aunt Dolly” was difficult to express and indicated that some of their most cherished memories would remain private.
She said Parton would have wanted her to turn her grief into music and continue moving forward.
“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong,” Cyrus wrote.
Cyrus added that she would always love Parton and try to make her proud, describing her as an angel who would remain by her side.
Taylor Swift remembers Parton
Taylor Swift also paid tribute to the country music pioneer, saying Parton’s influence would endure long after her death.
“A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right,” Swift said in a statement.
Swift described Parton as extraordinarily generous and praised the lasting impact she had on the lives of others. She also thanked the singer for helping create opportunities for young women to dream of careers in entertainment.
Dolly Parton’s cause of death
Parton’s representatives confirmed that she had been battling cancer before her death but did not reveal what type of cancer she had.
In a statement, her representatives said Parton had spent her life bringing “joy, laughter, hope and integrity” to everything she touched.
They also highlighted her philanthropic legacy, including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which has distributed hundreds of millions of books to children, and her support for medical research.
“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement said.
Parton had not publicly disclosed her cancer diagnosis before her death, although she had spoken about health difficulties during the previous year.
She postponed a series of Las Vegas performances for health reasons and later said she had been dealing with personal health problems. She also acknowledged that she had neglected her health while grieving the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in 2025.
In May, Parton said her immune and digestive systems were “all out of whack” and that doctors were working to strengthen them.
Eleven days before her death, she missed a planned public appearance after her doctor advised her not to travel because she was dizzy and dehydrated.
Parton had plans for years beyond her death
Parton’s death will not mark the end of many of the projects she helped develop.
Her longtime manager, Danny Nozell, said the singer had worked with a team she personally selected to create a long-term roadmap for her remaining projects.
“Ever the planner, Dolly worked with the team that she handpicked, for the past several years to build a project roadmap that will guide us for decades to come,” Nozell said.
He said the team would ensure that the dreams Parton had yet to fulfil would be brought to life.
The projects include music, books, products, experiences and campaigns, alongside plans for a museum, a line of dog treats, a Broadway musical, a biopic, a docuseries and a scripted television series.
Private memorial planned
Parton’s family is preparing for a small, private memorial service, in accordance with her wishes.
She will be buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, where her late husband is also buried.
Parton had discussed her funeral wishes publicly years ago. In a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said she wanted the gospel song “If We Never Meet Again” performed at her funeral because it had been her father’s favourite and was also sung at his funeral.
Her family has asked fans who wish to honour her memory to make donations to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library instead of sending flowers.
A life and legacy that reached far beyond music
Born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, in 1946, Parton rose from a large and modest family to become one of the world’s most successful entertainers.
She became a country music superstar and prolific songwriter, with songs such as “Jolene” helping cement her place in music history. She also built a successful acting career and became a prominent businesswoman and philanthropist.
Her charitable work became an especially important part of her legacy. She launched the Imagination Library in 1995, creating a programme that provides free books to children from birth to age five.
Parton also supported medical research and other charitable causes, further broadening her influence beyond entertainment.
Her death came 16 months after the death of Carl Dean, her husband of nearly 60 years. The couple married in Georgia in 1966 in a small ceremony intended to avoid media attention.
Parton is survived by members of her large family, including several of her 11 siblings.
As Tennessee considers whether one of its most prominent landmarks should bear her name, the tributes to Parton underline the extraordinary breadth of her influence.
For many, Dolly Parton was not simply a country music star. She was a songwriter, entertainer, actress, philanthropist and cultural icon whose work touched generations—and whose unfinished dreams are now being carried forward by the team she prepared to continue her legacy.
– USA Today.
