American flags to be lowered for a week to honor Dolly Parton, Trump announces in touching tribute after icon’s death

DONALD Trump has ordered American flags be flown at half-mast in honor of Dolly Parton as he pays a touching tribute to “one of the greatest”. The US singer-songwriter’s death at 80 has sent shockwaves across the globe as fans mourn the loss of the legendary star. Dolly Parton’s death at the age of 80 has sent shockwaves around the world Credit: AFP Donald Trump paid tribute to the late icon, calling her ‘one of the greatest’ Credit: Getty Among her fans is Trump, who offered Dolly a Presidential Medal of Freedom during his first term, which she turned down because her husband was very sick. In a tribute on Truth Social, the US president wrote: “Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! “This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will. “In her honor, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM. Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.” Read more about Dolly Parton It comes as… Dolly Parton dead at 80 as nephew shares heartbreaking tribute Star looked upbeat in final photos taken just weeks before her death Khloe Kardashian and Kelly Osbourne lead emotional tributes to country legend Family statement in full as nephew confirms country music icon’s death Singer revealed ‘hard times with health’ just days before passing Parton’s death comes just days after she admitted to enduring “hard times” with her health. She told PEOPLE on Friday: “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl.” Most read in Entertainment Sylvester Stallone and Dolly Parton at the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California Credit: Getty Dolly with Sabrina Carpenter behind the scenes of a Please Please Please duet music video Credit: Instagram Her beloved husband of 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean, died last March after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019. He was 82 years old. “It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Dolly continued. She recalled being “down for several months with female issues” in the early 1980s. But Dolly added: “I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.” After cancelling a slew of shows in December, the Tennessee native admitted she needed to go through “a few procedures”. Last October, Dolly’s sister Frieda had pleaded with her fans to pray for her sibling due to fears around her health. Frieda posted an emotional statement online saying: “I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.” The The 9-to-5 hitmaker was also forced to pull out of a Dollywood event after being diagnosed with a kidney stone. It was causing her “a lot of problems”. Dolly is best known for a string of country hits including Coat of Many Colors, I Will Always Love You, 9 To 5 and Jolene. She started her music career as a child performing for local radio stations and on TV shows across her hometown Pittman Centre. At just 11 years old, Dolly recorded her first single titled Puppy Love. Across the following decade she became known as more of a top songwriter alongside her uncle Bill Owens. In 1965, the 19-year-old future icon signed her first record deal with Monument Records as a singer songwriter. She had several songs chart in the US country charts in the late 1960s before releasing her debut album Hello, I’m Dolly. Dolly’s biggest mainstream hit came in 1973 when she released Jolene. The hit made it to number one on the country charts and even cracked the Hot 100. Breaking news… More to come… Comment now