'Ozzy Airport' campaigner responds after plans to rename Nashville Airport to honour Dolly Parton revealed

The man behind the ‘Ozzy Airport’ campaign has issued a statement responding to plans for Nashville International Airport to be renamed in honour of Dolly Parton.

Dan Hudson, host of the A Gay and A NonGay podcast, launched the change.org petition to rename the city's airport following Ozzy Osbourne's death on July 22, 2025, aged 76 - just weeks after his final performance at Villa Park.

The Black Sabbath frontman, who was born in Aston, was widely regarded as "the most important musician ever to hail from Birmingham". The band formed in 1968 and is widely credited with defining and popularising the sound of heavy metal.

However, Osbourne also had a successful solo career and found a new legion of fans when he appeared in the noughties reality TV series The Osbournes, starring alongside his family.

Following his death, the petition to rename the airport captured the attention of thousands of metal fans and has now garnered the support of almost 80,000 people and raising £8,000 in donations. It was even been publicly endorsed by celebrities including Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne, his children Jack and Kelly and singer YungBlud.

However, the mission to capture the Aston-born legends legacy by renaming the site seemed hopeless after the airport 'ruled out' the rebrand towards the end of last year - but Dan has vowed he is not giving up as 'it just wouldn't be right.'

And with plans being announced to potentially rename Nashville International Airport after country legend Dolly Parton, who died from cancer last week, aged 80 - Hudson has once again called for Birmingham Airport to reconsider their decision.

In a statement, Hudson said: “I am delighted and moved to see Nashville step up so quickly to honour Dolly Parton by proposing Nashville International Airport be renamed.

“Nashvilians understand that when a global music icon shapes the global identity of your city, it's something to celebrate and put on your front door for the whole world to see.

“The renaming of Nashville Airport shows how easy> the process can be - without any negative impact on development. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“It is now time for the second city to do the same and make Ozzy Osbourne Birmingham International Airport a reality. Birmingham Forever.”

Birmingham Airport were contacted for a response to Hudson’s statement. However, they stated that their position on the matter remains the same.

Dolly Parton, who was born in Tennessee, was deeply associated with Nashville throughout her career and was inducted into its Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1986.

The proposal is intended to create a “lasting tribute to her indelible legacy” and recognise “the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world”.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee spoke to Parton’s team about the idea earlier last week, and her representatives are “touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation”.

Gov. Lee said: “Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state. From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her.

“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 Metro Nashville Airport Authority’s (MNAA) current Naming Policy and Gov. Lee’s proposal to rename the airport will be addressed at a meeting on September 17.