Following the passing of country music icon Dolly Parton in August, two high-profile honors are set to illuminate Nashville this fall. The Country Music Association (CMA) will present a two-hour, live celebration titled “I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton” on October 21, while the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority has voted unanimously to begin the process of renaming Nashville International Airport after the beloved star.
The CMA special will be broadcast on ABC and Disney+ with a streaming rollout on Hulu the next day. Filmed at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, the show promises a blend of performances, archival footage, and personal anecdotes that trace Parton’s journey from the mountains of East Tennessee to global superstardom. CMA chief executive Sarah Trahern emphasized the industry’s gratitude, stating, “Dolly Parton belonged to the whole world, but she was born of this industry, and this industry owes her a debt of gratitude that words alone cannot repay.” Executive producer Robert Deaton added, “My hope is simply that we do right by her story, her music and the people who love her, so that this evening feels like the tribute my friend deserves.”
Belmont University partners with CMA to honor a legend
Belmont University’s president, Dr. Greg Jones, highlighted the alignment between Parton’s values and the campus mission, noting, “Dolly Parton’s impact extends far beyond music. She represents creativity, generosity, entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to lifting others up, qualities that have inspired generations and resonate deeply with Belmont’s mission.” A portion of the proceeds from the broadcast will support the Imagination Library the world-leading early-childhood book-gifting program founded by the Dollywood Foundation. This charitable tie underscores Parton’s lifelong dedication to education and literacy.
Nashville International Airport moves toward a new name
On September 11, the airport’s governing board cast a unanimous 6-0 vote to initiate the renaming of Nashville International Airport in Parton’s honor. While a final name has yet to be decided, the authority announced a collaborative effort with the Dollywood Foundation to determine how best to incorporate the singer-songwriter’s legacy. The board also amended its standard naming policy, which typically requires a two-year posthumous period, to accommodate this tribute.
The renaming campaign predates Parton’s death; a 2025 petition calling for “Dolly Parton International Airport” amassed more than 175,000 signatures, gaining bipartisan momentum after her passing. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a Democrat, both voiced support, with the city’s Metro Council passing a unanimous resolution on September 1. Lee remarked, “At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter.”
Parton’s record-breaking career and philanthropic reach
Born in Sevier County, Tennessee, Dolly Parton sold over 100 million records across a seven-decade career, earning 25 No. 1 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart—a record for any female artist. She topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “9 to 5” and co-headed the chart-topping duet “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers. Honors include induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in.
Beyond music, Parton’s charitable footprint is expansive. The Imagination Library has shipped hundreds of millions of free books to children worldwide, while the Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund has provided disaster relief, notably raising over $9 million after the East Tennessee fires. Her recent contributions include a $1 million donation to COVID-19 vaccine research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, a gift that, according to a close friend, accelerated vaccine development dramatically.
These honors—both the CMA tribute and the airport renaming—serve as collective thank-you gestures from an industry and a city that shaped Parton’s story. As the evening of October 21 unfolds, fans, fellow artists, and the broader public will witness a celebration that mirrors the generosity and spirit the icon herself embodied.
