Trump Orders US Flags Lowered for One Week as Dolly Parton Dies at 80

Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, bringing an end to a remarkable career that spanned more than six decades and made her one of the most recognisable figures in American entertainment.

Multiple reports, including The Independent, The Guardian and Sky News, reported Parton’s death, which was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

Reflecting on the loss, Seaver said, “I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.

“It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”

In a mark of national recognition, United States President Donald Trump ordered American flags across the country to be flown at half-staff for one week in honour of the late singer.

Trump described Parton’s death as a “true loss for millions of people.”

Parton, affectionately known as the “Queen of Country”, rose from extreme poverty in rural Tennessee to become a global music icon, prolific songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Over a career lasting more than 60 years, she sold more than 100 million records worldwide and produced enduring hits including “Jolene”, “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You”.

She wrote more than 3,000 songs and won 11 Grammy Awards, while also establishing a successful film career with appearances in movies such as 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Joyful Noise.

From humble Tennessee roots to global stardom

Born on January 19, 1946, Parton was the fourth of 12 children and grew up in a two-room log cabin along the Little Pigeon River in Tennessee.

Her father, an illiterate sharecropper, later worked his way up to owning a small tobacco farm. Parton often described her childhood family as “dirt poor”, while crediting her mother for introducing her to traditional folk music and her father for instilling in her a strong work ethic.

Her musical journey began during childhood. By the time she was 13, she had performed on local radio and television programmes in East Tennessee, appeared at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and recorded her first single, “Puppy Love”.

After completing high school in 1964, she moved to Nashville the following day to pursue a career in music and songwriting.

Her breakthrough came in 1967 with the release of her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly. That same year, she joined The Porter Wagoner Show, where established country star Porter Wagoner became both her mentor and musical collaborator.

The partnership produced a string of successful recordings before Parton decided to focus on her solo career in 1973.

Songs that became cultural landmarks

Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” as she ended her professional partnership with Wagoner. The song became a hit in its original version before achieving even greater global recognition when Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 movie The Bodyguard.

Around the same period, Parton also wrote “Jolene”, another song that would become one of her defining musical works. Both tracks featured on her 1974 album *Jolene*, which helped expand her appeal beyond the traditional country music audience.

Her 1977 album Here You Come Again became her first million-selling record and earned her a Grammy Award following almost a decade of nominations.

Parton moved successfully into Hollywood in 1980, making her acting debut alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the workplace comedy 9 to 5.

She also wrote and performed the film’s title song, which topped the charts and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

Further acting roles followed, including appearances in

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982, Steel Magnolias in 1989 and Joyful Noise in 2012.

Beyond music

Parton also built a substantial business empire encompassing television productions, food products and the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, which she acquired an interest in and renamed in 1986.

Her influence extended well beyond entertainment. Through the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, she promoted childhood literacy by providing books to children.

She also contributed to medical research, disaster relief and numerous charitable causes, including a $1 million donation towards COVID-19 vaccine research.

In 2022, she received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in recognition of her philanthropic work.

Explaining her approach to giving, Parton said, “I just give from my heart. I never know what I’m going to do or why I’m gonna do it. I just see a need and if I can fill it, then I will.”

Final years

Parton’s health became a matter of public concern in September 2025 when she postponed her Las Vegas residency. She had also withdrawn from several public appearances in recent weeks amid ongoing health issues.

Her death comes only months after the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, whom she married in 1966. Dean died in March 2025 at the age of 82, after nearly six decades of marriage to Parton.

Reacting to Parton’s death on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump wrote: “Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people.

“There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honour, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for one week beginning tonight at 6:00 PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Parton’s death marks the passing of an entertainer whose influence stretched across music, film, business and philanthropy, while her songs and humanitarian legacy continue to resonate with generations of fans.