President Donald Trump ordered American flags lowered across the country for one week following the death of country music legend Dolly Parton.
Trump announced the tribute Tuesday in an emotional Truth Social post, describing Parton as one of the greatest country singers and entertainers of all time.
“This is a true loss for millions of people,” Trump wrote. “There has never been anyone like her, and never will.”
The president said flags would be lowered beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday in honor of the 80-year-old American icon.
“Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you,” he added.
Parton’s nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, announced her death on social media Tuesday. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed, though the singer had recently acknowledged dealing with health problems.
Born into poverty as one of 12 children in rural Tennessee, Parton built a seven-decade career that made her one of the most recognizable entertainers in the world. She recorded enduring hits including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” while also finding success as an actress, songwriter and businesswoman.
Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and later joined the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Her influence extended far beyond entertainment. Parton founded the Imagination Library, a childhood literacy program that has mailed millions of free books to children, and used her wealth to support medical research, disaster relief and communities across Tennessee.
Trump offered Parton the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice during his first administration, but she declined on both occasions because of personal circumstances, including her husband Carl Dean’s declining health. Dean died in 2025 after nearly six decades of marriage.
Trump’s nationwide flag order now places Parton among the rare cultural figures to receive one of the country’s most visible public honors following their death.
