RismadarVoice Reporters
August 25, 2026
US President Donald Trump has mourned the death of country music legend Dolly Parton, describing her passing as a “true loss for millions of people.”
Trump also ordered American flags across the United States to be flown at half-staff for one week in honour of the music icon.
The President announced the directive in a post on his Truth Social account on Tuesday, which was subsequently shared by the White House on X.
Trump described Parton as one of the greatest country singers of all time, adding that “there has never been anyone like her, and never will.”
He directed that the flags be lowered from 6pm on Tuesday and remain so for one week.
Parton reportedly died at the age of 80, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than six decades.
Born on January 19, 1946, in a two-room cabin in Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children. She began performing as a child before moving to Nashville in 1964 to pursue music professionally.
She released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967 and went on to become one of the most successful singer-songwriters in country music.
Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide and became known as the “Queen of Country.”
Her best-known songs include “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” She wrote more than 3,000 songs and won 11 Grammy Awards.
Beyond music, Parton enjoyed a successful acting career, appearing in films including 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Joyful Noise.
She also built a wide-ranging business empire involving television, food products and Dollywood, the Tennessee theme park in which she acquired an interest and renamed in 1986.
Parton’s influence extended beyond entertainment. She was widely recognised for her philanthropy, particularly through the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, which promotes childhood literacy by providing books to children.
Parton’s death was announced on Tuesday by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in an Instagram post.
Seaver described the moment as one filled with both pride and profound sadness, saying the family had anticipated the difficulty of losing the celebrated singer but had not fully experienced its weight until her death.
Parton’s death has prompted tributes from fans and public figures around the world, marking the passing of one of the most influential figures in American popular culture.
