Dolly Parton is set to be honored with a special recognition.
The Jolene singer, who passed away at the age of 80 this week following a tragic cancer battle, is poised for a prestigious honor as Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced a surprise plan in a heartfelt statement.
According to the BBC, the governor has announced plans to name Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton in a major tribute to the late country music icon.
This comes after Parton’s fans filed a petition on change.org, demanding that the Nashville International Airport should be renamed in honor of the 9 to 5 hitmaker. The filing was signed by more than 150,000 people, making Lee to propose the plan.
In a statement, Lee shared that he had spoken to Parton's team, who "expressed their appreciation for the extraordinary outpouring of support to honor Dolly.”
"Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state," said the government official in a formal statement on Friday, August 28.
He added, "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 and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
It is pertinent to mention that the major move would make BNA the first international airport in America named after a woman, marking a huge posthumous achievement for Parton.
Dolly Parton’s death
Dolly Parton was pronounced dead at the age of 80 on Tuesday, August 25, with her family sharing that she passed away peacefully while being surrounded by her loved ones at her Nashville home.
According to her representative, Dolly Parton’s cause of death was cancer.
The country music legend briefly battled an undisclosed form of cancer and was admitted to hospital four days before her passing.
