Proposal to rename airport 'Trump International' fails; petition wants Dolly Parton

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRC) - A bill filed to rename the Nashville International Airport (BNA) as "Trump International Airport" failed in the Tennessee House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, but there is a petition to rebrand it after a legendary singer from the state.

The goal of HB0217, which was filed by Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, in January before President Donald Trump took office, proposed spending $10 million to rename the airport. BNA, which stands for Berry Field Nashville, is a nod to Colonel Harry S. Berry. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War I who helped to found the Nashville airport in 1937. The name was changed to Nashville International Airport in 1988.

An online petition, with more than 8,500 verified signatures, wants to put Dolly Parton's name on the airport, however.

"We request that the airport’s name be changed to Dolly Parton International Airport to honor an icon who has given so much to our state and to the world," states the petition. "We could all be Departin' from Parton!!"

The petition notes Dolly's Imagination Library program, philanthropic efforts and her influence in the music industry as reasons for the name change.

"I think that's probably more of a joke than anything," Parton told the The Tennessean in January when when asked about the petition.

"I mean, it does sound like a lot of fun to say: 'Your flight is departin' from Nashville's D. Parton,'" Parton said to The Tennessean. "But I couldn't imagine what (having my name attached to the airport could be) as an actual thing."