Process of renaming Nashville airport in honor of Dolly Parton moves forward after unanimous vote.

The Nashville International Airport is one step closer to being renamed after Dolly Parton following a unanimous vote on Friday.

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted 6-0 to begin the process of modifying the airport’s name in honor of Parton.

The effort has been supported by Gov. Bill Lee, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and the Metro City Council, as well as the general public. A petition in favor of changing the airport’s name garnered more than 175,000 signatures.

Gov. Bill Lee shared a statement following the authority’s vote, calling it an “important step” to honor Parton.

The decision begins a multifaceted process, with airport officials expecting to share more specific plans in the coming months.

Now the board will begin analyzing the cost and establish a timeline for the name change.

The authority said a final name has not yet been determined and that it will work with appropriate parties to decide how Parton’s name and legacy will be incorporated.

The airport authority’s current naming policy generally says airport properties should be named after people who have been dead for at least two years, meaning the policy may need to be revisited as the process moves forward