President Donald Trump ordered American flags lowered to half-staff for one week following the death of Dolly Parton, giving the country-music legend an official national tribute after her family announced Tuesday that she had died at age 80.
Trump said the order would take effect at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, and apply across the United States. The president described Parton's death as a "true loss for millions of people," recognizing a career that extended from country music and Hollywood to philanthropy and business.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump called Parton "one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER."
"There has never been anyone like her, and never will," Trump wrote.
Trump then announced the weeklong tribute. "In her honour, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM," he said.
The president ended his message with a personal farewell: "Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you."
Parton's family confirmed her death earlier Tuesday. Her nephew, Brian Seaver, announced the news on Instagram, describing the family's emotions as a mixture of "absolute pride and great sadness."
The decision to lower flags gives Parton's death an official recognition typically associated with periods of national mourning, prominent public figures and major national tragedies. Presidents have authority to direct flags to half-staff, while federal law also establishes specific occasions when the practice is required or traditionally observed.
For Parton, the gesture reflects a public stature that had long exceeded the boundaries of country music. Born in Tennessee in 1946, she grew up as one of 12 children in a one-room cabin before becoming one of the most commercially successful and recognizable performers produced by Nashville.
Parton began singing in church and appeared on local television while still a child. By age 13, she had performed at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, an early milestone in a career that would eventually span decades and multiple branches of the entertainment industry.
After moving to Nashville following high school, Parton initially established herself as a songwriter before emerging as a recording star in her own right. Her catalog eventually included "Jolene," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You," songs that helped carry her music well beyond traditional country audiences.
Parton accumulated 25 No. 1 singles on the U.S. country chart, according to the supplied article. "I Will Always Love You" achieved an unusual second life when Whitney Houston recorded the song, while Parton's distinctive image and personality made her a fixture of American popular culture.
Her career also extended to Hollywood. Parton appeared in films including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Steel Magnolias, helping establish her as one of the relatively few country performers to make a sustained transition into mainstream film.
Outside entertainment, Parton built a philanthropic record centered heavily on children's literacy. Her Imagination Library, established in 1995, began as a Tennessee initiative and developed into an international program distributing books to children in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and Ireland.
She also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2020 to support coronavirus research. The funding contributed to research associated with development of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, adding another dimension to a philanthropic portfolio that had become an important part of Parton's public identity.
Parton remained closely identified with East Tennessee through Dollywood, the theme park bearing her name. The attraction became a major tourism destination and employer in the region while also serving as a platform for charitable initiatives connected to the communities where Parton grew up.
Her final months were marked by health concerns. Parton canceled a planned Las Vegas residency in May 2026 because of health issues, according to the supplied report.
