Dolly Parton’s name may soon greet travelers arriving in Tennessee, but one familiar piece of Nashville’s airport is staying exactly where it is.
BNA is not going anywhere.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted 6-0 on Sept. 11 to begin the process of changing Nashville International Airport’s name to honor Parton. The final name has not been chosen yet, and airport officials say the change will take more planning before it becomes official.
But airport leaders have confirmed one detail that matters to anyone who has ever checked a boarding pass, tracked a flight or waited for a suitcase at baggage claim: The airport code will remain BNA. WSMV reported that airport officials plan to keep the letters because they are used in airline and flight-planning systems.
So even if Dolly’s name ends up over the terminal entrance, Tennesseans should still expect to see BNA on their tickets.
Why Is Nashville’s Airport Code BNA Anyway?
For people outside Middle Tennessee, BNA can look like a strange airport code.
There is no “B” in Nashville International Airport.
The answer goes back decades before the city became the tourism and music destination travelers know today.
Nashville’s airport opened in 1937 as Berry Field, named for Col. Harry S. Berry. The airport’s own historical records say the original site covered about 340 acres and included a terminal, two hangars and a 4,000-foot runway.
The airport says BNA stands for Berry Field Nashville, keeping a piece of that older name alive long after the airport became Nashville International Airport.
That explains why a Nashville flight has carried the BNA label for generations — and why changing the name on the building does not necessarily mean changing the code used throughout the aviation system.
Some Dolly fans have floated “DDD” as a replacement, a playful nod to the singer. But airport officials have said BNA will remain.
In other words, Tennessee may get a Dolly Parton airport without having to relearn how to search for flights.
The Dolly Parton Renaming Is Moving Forward
The Sept. 11 airport authority vote did not settle the exact wording of the new name.
Instead, the board formally started the process.
The airport authority said it is working with the appropriate parties to determine how Parton’s name and legacy will be included. More information about the next steps and how the change will be carried out is expected in the coming months.
One name that has been discussed is Dolly Parton Nashville International Airport, according to WSMV.
The movement also has support from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. On Aug. 28, Lee and Nashville International Airport announced their intention to pursue the tribute. The governor’s office said Parton’s team was open to continuing conversations about the idea.
The proposal carries extra significance for Tennessee because Parton’s story reaches well beyond Nashville.
She was born in Sevier County in East Tennessee and built a career that became closely tied to both Nashville’s music industry and the state’s identity. Her work outside music, particularly through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, also connected her name with families and children far beyond the entertainment business.
If the renaming is completed, the Associated Press reports that Parton would become the first woman whose name appears on one of the 50 busiest airports in the United States.
That would turn what looks like a local Nashville name change into a national first.
A New Name With an Old Airport Code
There is something especially Tennessee about the airport keeping both pieces of history.
Parton’s name would represent one of the state’s most recognizable modern cultural figures. BNA would continue pointing back to Berry Field and the airport Nashville built nearly 90 years ago.
Travelers probably will not need to think about any of that when they are rushing to a gate.
Their boarding pass will still say BNA.
Their checked bag will still be tagged BNA.
And anyone searching for a flight into Nashville should still type BNA.
The bigger changes — the final airport name, new signs, branding and the timetable for putting everything into place — are still being worked out. Airport officials have described the Sept. 11 vote as only the first step in a larger process.
For Tennesseans, however, the basic picture is becoming clear: Dolly Parton’s name is on its way to one of the state’s biggest gateways, while three letters from Nashville aviation history are staying right where they are.
Sources
Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Sept. 11, 2026 statement on the unanimous 6-0 vote and renaming process. MNAA statement
Nashville International Airport history and explanation of the BNA identifier. BNA airport history
Tennessee Governor’s Office announcement on the proposal to honor Dolly Parton. Governor’s Office announcement
WSMV reporting on the airport vote, possible name and decision to retain BNA.
Associated Press reporting on the proposed renaming and its significance among the nation’s 50 busiest airports.
