Trump orders US flags at half-staff to honor Dolly Parton

American flags at home and abroad will be flown at half-staff for one week in honor of Dolly Parton, the legendary country singer who died Tuesday at the age of 80.

President Donald Trump ordered the lowering of flags on the day of her passing as a "mark of respect" for her memory. The directive applies to all flags at the White House, public buildings and grounds, military posts, naval stations, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions, until sunset on September 1.

In addition to those locations, Trump decreed that American flags would be flown at half-staff at all U.S. embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including military installations, naval vessels, and stations, according to a presidential action.

"In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM," Trump wrote in a Tuesday social media post.

Parton, known for her successful music career and philanthropy, died in Nashville, Tennessee. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her passing in a video posted to the icon's Instagram account.

"A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family," a message on Instagram reads, alongside a picture of Parton with the words, "I will always love you."

Parton's publicist, Marcel Pariseau, told CNN that the singer died after a "brief battle with cancer" and was admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Support for the Military Community

During her storied 60-year career, Parton spent time performing for American troops in support of the military community.

• In 1991, Parton visited troops at Fort Hood, Texas, during Operation Desert Storm.
• In September 2004, the singer landed a picture of herself on a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee.
• In 2005, Parton performed at the Grand Ole Opry in support of the Department of Defense's "America Supports You" campaign, with the feed broadcast across 177 U.S. military stations, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• In December 2022, Parton participated in the USO Military Virtual Programming series, allowing deployed service members and their families to chat with her virtually.

Flag Status

A half-staff American flag notification states that American flags will be returned to full-staff at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1.

About the Author

Cristina Stassis is a reporter covering stories surrounding the defense industry, national security, military and veteran affairs, and more. She previously worked as an editorial fellow for Defense News in 2024, where she assisted the newsroom in breaking news across Sightline Media Group.