US orders flags flown at half-mast to honour Dolly Parton following her death
US president orders national tribute
Credit: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Country music legend Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80, following a private battle with cancer. Her family and representatives confirmed she died peacefully at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones.
The news was initially shared on Instagram by her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver.
In a video message, Seaver expressed the deep sadness felt by her family while celebrating her extraordinary legacy.
In response to her passing, US President Donald Trump ordered all American flags across the country to be lowered to half-mast for one week.
Describing her as one of the greatest performers in history, he noted that her loss would be felt by millions of admirers worldwide.
Dolly Parton moved from humble origins to worldwide stardom
Born in 1946 into a low-income family in rural East Tennessee, Parton was the fourth of 12 children raised in a modest log cabin.
Her childhood environment was financially humble, yet rich in musical influence. She credited her mother with instilling a deep love for traditional folk ballads and praised her father for demonstrating an unwavering work ethic.
Parton began her career at an early age, performing on local radio and television in East Tennessee. By 13, she had taken the stage at the Grand Ole Opry and recorded her debut single.
Immediately after completing high school in 1964, she relocated to Nashville to pursue songwriting full-time.
Six decades of musical and cinematic success
Parton’s career spanned more than 60 years, earning her 11 Grammy Awards and sales of over 100 million records globally. Widely regarded as the “Queen of Country,” her catalogue includes over 3,000 written songs, featuring timeless classics such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” and “I Will Always Love You”.
Beyond her record-breaking music achievements, Parton established a successful screen career. She made her feature film debut in the 1980 comedy 9 to 5, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for its title track.
She went on to star in several notable films, including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, and Joyful Noise.
Business ventures and global philanthropy
In addition to her entertainment work, Parton built an extensive commercial empire. In 1986, she acquired an ownership stake in a Tennessee theme park, transforming it into Dollywood—a major regional tourism destination.
Her philanthropic contributions were equally significant. Through the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, she funded the distribution of hundreds of millions of free books to promote global childhood literacy.
She also directed substantial funding toward medical research—including a $1 million donation toward COVID-19 vaccine development—and supported numerous disaster relief initiatives.
Her humanitarian efforts earned her the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2022.
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