President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered American flags across the United States to be lowered to half-staff for one week in honour of Dolly Parton, who died at 80.
The directive came hours after news of the country music icon’s passing was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, on Instagram.
“Today we lost a true American treasure,” Trump said in a statement from the White House. “Dolly Parton was more than a singer. She was a storyteller, a worker, and a light for millions of people. From a little cabin in Tennessee to the biggest stages in the world, she never forgot where she came from. That’s why we’re lowering our flags — to remember her.”
—“A True Loss For Millions”—
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Trump called Parton’s death “a true loss for millions of people” and praised her six-decade career that produced more than 100 million records sold, 11 Grammys, and over 3,000 songs.
He specifically cited her anthems “Jolene,” “9 to 5,”_ and “I Will Always Love You”_ as songs “that became part of our national fabric.”
“Dolly represented hard work, faith, family, and the American dream,” Trump added. “She came from nothing — dirt poor, her words — and she built an empire with talent and grit. That’s the kind of story we should be telling our kids.”
—Flags Lowered Nationwide Through September 2—
Under the presidential proclamation, flags at the White House, all public buildings, military posts, naval stations, and embassies abroad will remain at half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, September 2, 2026.
The White House said the honor is reserved for figures “who have made an indelible mark on American culture.”
—From Cabin to Icon—
Born January 19, 1946, in a two-room log cabin in Sevier County, Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children. Her father was an illiterate sharecropper. She was on the Grand Ole Opry by age 13 and in Nashville the day after high school graduation.
Beyond music, Trump noted her work in film — 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas — and her philanthropy, including literacy programs that have distributed millions of books to children.
“She gave back,” Trump said. “She didn’t just take from this country. She gave it songs, she gave it jobs, she gave it hope.”
Tributes from across the political spectrum have poured in since Seaver’s announcement. But with the flags now lowered, the White House said the nation will spend the next week remembering what Trump called “the Queen of Country and one of our greatest Americans.”
Dolly Parton, 1946 – 2026.
