Nashville, Tennessee — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s proposal to rename Nashville International Airport for Dolly Parton is drawing praise as a tribute to the late singer while also reviving debate over the state’s treatment of LGBTQ residents.
Lee announced the proposal after Parton’s death, saying her music, generosity and connection to Tennessee made her an appropriate namesake for the airport. The Nashville Airport Authority is scheduled to consider the idea in September.
Mother Jones noted a political contrast between the tribute and Lee’s record on LGBTQ policy. Lee signed Tennessee’s restrictions on public drag performances and gender-affirming care for minors, while Parton repeatedly expressed support for LGBTQ people and drag performers.
Parton once joked that if she had been born a man, she “would have been a drag queen,” and she maintained a long relationship with LGBTQ fans. In 2023, she sent a rhinestone-covered guitar to Texas drag performer Brigitte Bandit while Bandit was challenging that state’s drag law.
Tennessee’s Adult Entertainment Act has faced criticism from civil-liberties groups that argue its language is broad enough to chill constitutionally protected performances. Lee has defended the law as protecting children from sexualized entertainment.
The airport proposal itself remains separate from those disputes, but the contrast has made Parton’s broader cultural legacy part of the discussion surrounding the planned renaming.
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