Country legend Dolly Parton dies at 80
American country singer, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. US President Donald Trump has ordered flags across the country to be flown at half-staff for a week in her memory. It is a rare event in the US for a nationwide state of mourning for a musician.
Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80.
According to the singer's press secretary, the "Queen of Country Music" died on August 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 80. This news was also confirmed by her nephew, Brian Seaver.
US President Donald Trump has ordered that national flags across the country be flown at half-staff for a week in connection with Dolly Parton's death. He announced this on the Truth Social social network.
Trump described Parton as one of the great performers not only in country music, but also in the entire American music scene, noting that her death is a great loss for millions of people.
According to the presidential decree, US flags will be flown at half-staff for a week starting at 6:00 p.m. on August 25.
Such a decision is considered a rare case for the United States. Flags have been flown at half-mast in the United States in the past to honor the deaths of prominent figures, but these decisions have usually been made at the state or local level.
The practice of flying flags at half-mast across the country is used primarily to honor high-ranking government officials, military personnel, or victims of national tragedies.
Trump had previously ordered flags lowered nationwide in July following the death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 12 at the age of 71.
Dolly Parton was born in 1946 in Tennessee to a large, low-income family. She was the fourth of 12 children.
Parton learned to sing in church and recorded her first country album at the age of 13. Her greatest success came in the 1970s. Later, the singer also achieved great success in pop music and became known as a film actress.
Her most famous songs include "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You". "I Will Always Love You" was later re-recorded by Whitney Houston for the film "The Bodyguard", and this version also achieved worldwide popularity.
Dolly Parton's total sales of musical recordings worldwide have exceeded 100 million copies.