Nashville International Airport in Tennessee has been the target of two conflicting proposals to rename it after two very different famous figures: Dolly Parton and President Donald Trump.
According to the Tennessee Daily News, it all began on January 17 when Republican state representative Todd Warner proposed a measure to rename the city’s airport the Trump International Airport.
Although the measure was timely, it provided no explanation for the name change. Three days before Trump was formally sworn in for his second term as president of the United States, it was filed. The bill was supported by Senator Joey Hensley and three additional state legislators from Tennessee.
However, they weren’t the only ones who had ideas about who a possible BNA rebrand should be named after.
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To rename the airport the Dolly Parton International Airport, aChange.orgpetition was established on January 21.
The petition has garnered over 1300 signatures as of Monday, January 27.
The petition points to Dolly Parton’s “philanthropic efforts,” “outstanding” musical impact, and “the love she has instilled in our hearts” as reasons why the airport should change its name. “As proud citizens of Tennessee, we are motivated by our deep-rooted admiration for the national treasure and Tennessee legend, Dolly Parton,” the petition reads.
It ends, “We could all be Departin’ from Parton!!”
Whether the Change.org petition is a reaction to the law that proposes to have Trump’s name affixed to the airport is unclear.
Neither movement has provided a finance strategy for its proposed rebrand, according to the Tennessee.
According to the facility’s Master Plan Update, Nashville’s airport received its current moniker in 1988 following significant development and the creation of an American Airlines hub. Prior to that, it was called Berry Field Nashville, after World War I veteran Colonel Harry S. Berry, who assisted in the airport’s founding in 1937. In his honor, the airport code, BNA, is still in use.
