BBC Breakfast presenters have revealed plans being considered to honour late country music legend Dolly Parton, just minutes into Saturday morning's live show on August 29.
Charlie Stayt and Luxmy Gopal were presenting the day's top stories when they turned their attention to Dolly, following an outpouring of tributes to the legendary singer after her death at age 80.
Officials propose renaming Nashville airport
Speaking to viewers at home, Charlie started off by saying: “The past few days have been dominated by tributes to the queen of country, Dolly Parton, after her death at the age of 80.”
Making the announcement, he continued: “Now officials in her home state of Tennessee are proposing a more permanent way to honour her.”
Luxmy then revealed that officials have suggested renaming Nashville International Airport in Dolly's honour. She said, “They’ve suggested renaming Nashville International Airport in her name. The city is the capital of country music and the place where Dolly’s career started.”
Dolly's enduring connection to Tennessee
The presenter went on to highlight Dolly's enduring connection to Tennessee throughout her extraordinary career, despite becoming one of the most recognisable stars in the world.
“Though she became known across the world, she always maintained strong links throughout her life with the city and the state of Tennessee, which was the subject in many of her songs,” Luxmy added.
She then made her own feelings on the proposal clear, saying: “I think it’s a brilliant idea.” The brief but touching discussion came as tributes continue to pour in for Dolly, whose career spanned decades and saw her become a global superstar through her music, acting, and philanthropic work.
Petition and governor's statement
The suggestion to rename the city's international airport comes after fans signed an online petition to rename it after Parton, who was born in rural Tennessee and later moved to Nashville.
The petition was originally launched in January 2025 but gained fresh momentum following her death, gathering nearly 160,000 signatures by Friday evening.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has since spoken out. In a statement, Lee said 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," Lee said. "At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state's favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly's music, generosity, faith, and kindness," the governor's statement said on Friday.
BBC Breakfast airs everyday from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
