Why the Dolly Parton International Airport?
Like so many of you, I was deeply saddened by the recent passing of Dolly Parton. She was an absolute force of nature – a cultural icon who brought people together like no one else.
That is why I smiled when I saw the news that Tennessee’s governor and airport authorities are moving forward with renaming Nashville’s airport the Dolly Parton International Airport.
Honestly, I can’t think of a better tribute. (Our newly posted podcast covers this same topic)
It also got me thinking about how we name things in America. Right now, many major U.S. airports are named after presidents, military heroes or iconic entertainers like Louis Armstrong (New Orleans), John Wayne (Orange County) and Bob Hope (Burbank).
But my personal favorite transport-related tribute isn't an airport at all. It’s in Florida, where State Road A1A was officially designated the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway. Can you think of anything more fitting for a drive down the coast?
It begs the question: Why aren’t we doing this more often? Many of our largest airports are surprisingly un-branded other than the city or region they represent.
Decades ago, travel had an innate sense of romance. People dressed up for flights, and the journey itself felt like a special precursor to the destination. Somewhere along the way, we lost a bit of that magic.
Injecting personality back into our infrastructure could be the exact spark we need. Let’s name more airports, highways and train stations after the beloved, unforgettable icons who changed our world and shaped our culture.
My Clients First business partner, John Clendening, and I were brainstorming what this could look like on our most recent podcast, and the possibilities are virtually endless. Here is a sampling of what we came up with
- Los Angeles (LAX): Earvin "Magic" Johnson International Airport. Talk about literally bringing the "magic" back to air travel!
- Omaha: Warren Buffett Omaha Airport. Honoring “The Oracle of Omaha” just seems like too good of a choice.
- Pittsburgh (my home airport!): Fred Rogers International Airport. Imagine landing in Pittsburgh and being greeted with this tagline: “Welcome to our neigborhood”!
Think about the tangible benefits for airports and travelers alike. Can you imagine the atmosphere inside the Nashville airport once it's touched by a bit of Dolly’s signature rhinestone sparkle? The local pride, the traveler experience and – let's be honest – the merchandise sales would be off the charts.
Not to mention the opportunity that naming an airport after a historical figure provides to educate us about important pieces of our history. Take the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport. Don’t know who Shuttlesworth was? He was civil rights pioneer Fred Shuttlesworth, a minister and the founding president of the Alabama Christian Movement.
He worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. to challenge racial segregation in Birmingham during the 1960s. And he survived multiple bombings targeting his home and church, remaining a steadfast symbol of courage in the fight for equality. Fred Shuttlesworth is a hero to be remembered.
These days, it often feels like we are incredibly divided. But if there is one thing that can still bridge the gap, it’s our shared love for the heroes who entertained us, inspired us and gave back to our communities.
You can already fly into Kennedy, Bush and Reagan. Soon, you'll be able to "depart from Parton." Let’s keep that momentum going and turn our transit hubs into living memorials for the creators and icons who have helped define American culture.
Who’s ready to start a grassroots movement to make this happen? There is truly no downside.
# # #
