‘True loss’: Donald Trump orders flags to be flown at half-mast for a week in honour of Dolly Parton as tributes pour in

US President Donald Trump has ordered that American flags be flown at half-mast for a week to honour the life of country music star Dolly Parton.

Taking to his own social platform Truth Social, Trump described Parton as “one of the greatest country singers” and her death was “a true loss for millions of people”.

“There has never been anyone like her, and never will. In her honour, I am lowering the American flag throughout the United States for a one-week period beginning tonight at 6:00PM,” he wrote.

“Rest in Peace, Dolly! The World loves you.”

The president was among an overwhelming number of stars who have taken to social media in disbelief at the news of Dolly Parton’s death, aged 80.

Taylor Swift, who recently donated $2 million to Parton’s Imagination Library charity with husband Travis Kelce before their New York wedding, released a lengthy statement celebrating the singer.

Read more

Dolly Parton died after a ‘brief battle with cancer’, new details reveal

“A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right,” Swift said. “But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one.”

“She was truly the gift that kept on giving. Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals. Somehow she was able to give us her lessons about the world gently and honestly, simultaneously, and oftentimes hilariously.

“She managed to give the world the ultimate mystery and fantasy in some corners of her life, but to give full transparency in the ways that counted. Somehow she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person. She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others, and a backbone of steel to defend her own self worth as an artist.

“Along with her other fans, I am so grateful for all of it. For the melodies and lyrics she wrote that thawed even the coldest hearts. For the millions of books she provided children all over the world so that they might fall in love with stories the way she did. For the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too.”

Swift concluded: ”Dolly, I’ll think of you each step of the way.”

Nicole Kidman and her ex-husband Keith Urban, both of whom were very close to the singer, shared their devastation at the loss of an icon.

“Heartbroken today. Dolly Parton. Honestly... I have no words right now,” Urban wrote, while Kidman shared a photo of her family posing with Parton.

“We will always love you, Dolly,” she captioned the photo.

Billy Ray Cyrus, who has a strong close bond with the late singer, also shared an emotional tribute, with her death coming on his birthday.

“I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start. Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TV’s, right in our living rooms,” the post started.

“In 1992, I’ll never forget walking into her dressing room to apologise for all the tabloid stories which claimed I was having an affair with her. In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said, ‘Honey, this trash sells records!’

“Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart. I will always love her in the same way ….. with my whole heart … and I always will. – Billy Ray Cyrus.”

Alongside the post, Cyrus shared several snaps of moments with Parton throughout both of their careers and with his daughter Miley Cyrus, who is Parton’s goddaughter.

Parton’s family made the announcement in a social media video, with fellow country music stars and Hollywood names alike sharing their memories of the star.

“So sorry to hear about Dolly – she was a true force of nature. May she rest in peace,” Barbra Streisand posted on Instagram.

Rapper Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, shared a surprising message online and the letter he received from Parton during one of his career milestones.

Alongside a letter he got from the country star after he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he wrote: “I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had an impact on me.

“She definitely didn’t have to take the time to do it. Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense. Rest easy Dolly. And thank you for the kind words.”

Fellow music legend Paul McCartney reminisced on the first time he met the 9 to 5 hitmaker, and how honoured he was to be able to work with her.

“The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad. She was such a wonderful woman,” his post on Instagram started.

“I first met her in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry where she had been playing with the country star Porter Wagoner and was about to start her solo career. She was so bubbly and full of life it is difficult to take in the news that she has passed.

“Her songwriting, her singing and her philanthropy were unrivalled in the world of country music and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly. She was a very clever business woman who understood the value of her music and, most importantly, the effect that she had on the people of the world.

“There was no greater honour for me than to have her sing my song Let It Be and, even though I only made a small contribution to it, I am so honoured that she did it. I am so proud to have known her and admire her unique talents.“Thanks Dolly for the beautiful music you gave me and the whole world. We will always love you, god bless and rest in peace. You were the best.”

Sir Rod Stewart, who has recently been battling with his own ongoing health issues, posted a message on Instagram.

“Im absolutely floored … I’ve just gotten over Bonnie leaving us RIP my darling Dolly,” he wrote.

The Jackson 5 posted a message for Parton on their Instagram account, sharing a special memory from the day they met her in 1977.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of the incomparable Dolly Parton,” the post started.

“Dolly was a true trailblazer. Through her extraordinary talent, kindness and generosity, she opened doors and inspired generations around the world.

“We share this special memory from 1977, when we had the honour of meeting Dolly in England on the same day we also met Queen Elizabeth II.

“Thank you, Dolly, for the music, the joy and the light you shared with us all. May you rest peacefully in the loving arms of the Lord, reunited with your husband Carl and the many loved ones who made their journey to Heaven before you.

“Our prayers are with Dolly’s family, friends and everyone whose life she touched.

“Rest in peace, Dolly. Your beautiful spirit and remarkable legacy will live on forever.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared his own snap with Parton and paid tribute to her.

“Dolly Parton made our world a better place in so many ways, it’s hard to imagine the world without her. A singer and songwriter of rare power and talent, she also shone brightly as an actor, author and philanthropist,” he wrote.

“And the big, radiant heart of the Dolly universe was a personality as strong as it was compassionate, a vivacious woman of great humour and a sense of humanity sustained in no small part by the humble strength of her roots.

“One of the joys of my time in Government was when I was able to help Dolly overcome a bit of red tape and get her tour bus on to Australian roads in 2011. It was a magical experience meeting her, but what was even better was seeing her among her legions of local fans.

“There are a lot of broken hearts in Australia and across the world today. Wherever you are, turn your stereo or your phone to Dolly then turn the volume up.

“And may the great Dolly Parton rest in peace.”

Singer Sheryl Crow revealed she loved the country legend like family, like a lot of people did, in her tribute.

“There is a hole in the universe. There was and will never be anyone like Dolly. I did not know her well but I loved her like family… we all did. She was an incredible story teller musically and in real life,” she wrote on Instagram.

“But she was also a loving and compassionate human being, led by goodness in all she did. I will miss knowing she is on the planet but she will never be far away. RIP Dolly, we love you.”

Julia Roberts, Parton’s Steel Magnolias co-star, labelled the singer “a magical and joyous human” in a statement.

“I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life,” she said.

Read more

Dolly was worth $600 million, she gave most of it away to charity

“The sun has dimmed today.”

Jamie Lee Curtis shared a loving tribute alongside a photo of the pair.

“They say don’t meet your heroes,” she began.

“Her bravery to know that she was more than they thought she was and that she needed to break away and move on into new work and new possibilities led her to write I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, as her way of thanking and loving, but moving on. She is a great example for us all.”

Singer Kasey Musgraves wrote on X: “The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.”

Australian country music star Keith Urban told fans he was “heartbroken today”.

“Honestly… I have no words right now,” he wrote on Instagram stories.

Khloe Kardashian, who famously hosted a Dollywood-themed 40th birthday party before collaborating with the singer on a jeans collection for her brand Good American, said she was “heartbroken” by the news.

“Some people are so extraordinary, their existence feels almost impossible. Dolly was one of those people,” Kardashian wrote in the emotional tribute.

“A once-in-a-lifetime soul. A woman whose light, heart, talent and humanity changed this world forever. To have admired her was a gift.

“To have met her, spent time in her presence, and somehow been lucky enough that Dolly Parton knew my name… I will never have words big enough for what that means to me.

“What an astronomical human being. What a legacy. What a loss. There will never be another Dolly.”

Fellow country music legend Reba McEntire shared a note with a selection of photos from over the years following “the news that my buddy Dolly passed onto the higher and greater side”.

“Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth,” McEntire wrote.

“Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge, huge heart.

“There will never ever be another you. We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang.”

Graham Norton, who didn’t work with the country icon much during her career, shared a touching tribute.

“Such heartbreaking news. I only met and worked with Dolly a few times so it’s hard to explain the bond I felt. She was the best of us and lived her life in a way we should all aspire to. Her talent and humanity were beyond compare. I will always miss you,” he wrote on Instagram.

In a post on X, Paris Hilton praised Dolly’s kindness and talent, and revealed she’s been “such an inspiration” to her.

“Heartbroken to hear about Queen @DollyParton’s passing. She was a true icon and such an inspiration to me. Her talent, heart and kindness touched so many lives, and she truly left this world better than she found it. Sending all my love to her family, friends and everyone who loved her. Rest in peace, Dolly,” she wrote alongside a snap of the pair together.

Seth MacFarlane reflected on working alongside Dolly and the “extraordinary experience” it was.

“The news of Dolly Parton’s passing is devastating,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I had the extraordinary experience of working with her on The Orville, and it was a joy to discover that she really was exactly the person we all hoped she was. Her kindness, generosity, and authenticity were evident from moment one, and the benign yet assured command she maintained over her empire was obvious from the genuine love and trust you could see from everyone who worked for her.

“The world is a dimmer place today without her.”

Andy Cohen, one of the most iconic men on Bravo, shared his own touching tribute to the late country singer on Instagram.

Alongside an iconic Andy Warhol inspired piece of art he wrote, “We were all so lucky to live in her midst and get to experience her music, kindness, and joy.”

Kelly Osbourne, who has also known the singer for decades, shone a light on Parton’s unique and selfless spirit.

“Dolly, thank you for paving the way. Not only for women in music, but for women everywhere to be unapologetically themselves,” she began.

“You showed us that we could be ambitious and kind, strong and soft, fearless and authentic.

“One of the greatest honours of my life was getting to work with you. Your legacy reaches far beyond music. Through your philanthropy, generosity, and commitment to literacy and education, you changed countless lives and made the world a better place.

“You used your success to lift others, proving that true greatness is measured not only by what we achieve, but by what we give.

“There will never be another Dolly Parton. Thank you for the music, the laughter, the love, and for leaving this world brighter, kinder, and better than you found it.”

Country music star Maren Morris said “there will never be another”.

Sarah Jessica Parker wrote not as a co-star or fellow actor but as a fan.

“I never met @dollyparton but my gosh, did I love her,” the Sex & The City star wrote on social media.

“I don’t think any of us had to know her to love her. One of the greatest this country ever produced. Legend. For real.”

Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth said she was “immediately heartbroken” hearing the news, just “like the rest of the world”.

“I met Dolly on several occasions and she always made me feel like one of her own,” she wrote, alongside photos of them together.

“She even agreed to sing with me on one of my records. My ultimate inspiration. The world has lost one of the best but I know we will never forget her because she is impossible to forget. I love you Dolly and I will ALWAYS love you.”

Alongside a photo of Parton and Miss Piggy, The Muppets paid tribute to the icon.

“There will never be another quite like Dolly Parton,” they wrote.

“She was the ultimate singer, songwriter, actress, performer, and philanthropist. She filled the world with light and we are so grateful for every second we got to spend with her onstage and off.”

The Jolene singer’s death was announced by family on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST) but no other details surrounding her passing are known.

She’d been battling some health issues and undergoing treatments in recent months but shutdown online rumours of how serious her health concerns were just days ago.

“Even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’,” she said.

“You know me – as I’ve often said – I’ve dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”

Parton will be farewelled in a small and private service, with only immediate family in attendance, at her request, a statement revealed.