Dolly Parton could soon have her name attached to one of Tennessee’s most important gateways.

Just days after the country music legend died at 80, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced a proposal to rename Nashville International Airport in her honor. The idea comes as fans across the country continue to remember Parton and the enormous mark she left on her home state.

The proposal was announced Friday, August 28, following Parton’s death earlier in the week after a brief battle with cancer.

Lee said he believes the airport would be the perfect place to honor Parton because it welcomes people from around the world to Tennessee.

“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,” Lee said in a statement.

He added that the new name would help carry on Parton’s legacy of music, generosity, faith, and kindness.

The governor’s office also confirmed that Lee has already spoken with representatives for Parton about the proposal.

The idea has gained support from thousands of Parton fans. More than 150,000 people have reportedly signed an online petition calling for Nashville International Airport to be renamed after the beloved country star.

However, the change may not happen immediately.

The Metro Nashville Airport Authority currently has a policy stating that airport properties can only be named after people who have been dead for at least two years. Because Parton died only days ago, the authority would need to reconsider that policy if Lee’s proposal is going to move forward.

The airport authority is expected to discuss the naming policy and the governor’s proposal at its September 17 meeting.

For Tennessee, the idea would be a major tribute to a woman whose influence reached far beyond country music.

Born into a poor family in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Parton grew up to become one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world. Her career produced unforgettable songs including Jolene and I Will Always Love You, while her work in Hollywood included memorable roles in 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias.

But Parton’s connection to Tennessee went far beyond her music and acting career.

She became one of the state’s most beloved figures through her philanthropy, including the creation of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which has provided millions of books to children.

Her husband, Carl Dean, was also closely connected to Nashville. The couple spent much of their married life in the city, and Dean died there in March at the age of 82.

Now, as Tennessee prepares to say goodbye to one of its most famous daughters, the proposed airport renaming could give Parton a permanent place at the very gateway where visitors arrive to experience Music City.

If approved, travelers flying into Nashville could one day be greeted by the name of Dolly Parton before they even leave the airport.

For a woman whose music and kindness reached millions of people around the world, it would be a fitting way to keep her legacy alive in the state she always called home.