Dolly Parton honored with half-staff flags in Tennessee. How long?

Flags across the country are being flown at half-staff in honor of the late Dolly Parton, who died on Aug. 25 at age 80. The award-winning "Jolene" singer's death was confirmed in a social media video, in which her nephew, Bryan Seaver, delivered an on-camera statement. He said Parton asked him to d

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Flags across the country are being flown at half-staff in honor of the late Dolly Parton, who died on Aug. 25 at age 80.

The award-winning "Jolene" singer's death was confirmed in a social media video, in which her nephew, Bryan Seaver, delivered an on-camera statement. He said Parton asked him to do so "years ago."

Parton was known as the “Queen of Country." She was also a philanthropist who in 2020 donated $1 million toward the research that helped Moderna create its COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

In a social media post on Aug. 25, President Donald Trump announced flags would be lowered to honor the late iconic country music star.

Here's how long flags will be at half-staff.

Why are flags at half-staff in Tennessee today?

By order of the Governor, and in accordance with the President’s

order, flags across Tennessee shall be lowered to half-staff beginning at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 and remain lowered until 6 p.m. on Sept. 1.

"Very sad to report that Dolly Parton, one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER, has just passed away. This is a true loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and never will," Trump wrote. "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."

Gov. Bill Lee, like many other Tennessee politicians, released a statement honoring Parton's legacy and her impact on the state throughout her life.

“Rare is the one who climbs to the pinnacle of fame, then scoffs at its allure only to retain the genuine humility that defines them," Lee said in a statement on social media. "Dolly Parton was one of a kind, who loved people, her work, her family, and her Lord. Tennessee has forever been changed – enhanced – by her and will never be quite the same without Dolly.”

When did Dolly Parton die?

She died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville after being hospitalized there Aug. 21.

Parton's death was announced in a video message from her nephew Bryan Seaver on her social media pages on Aug. 25.

"Dolly has lived in the light, and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by (her husband) Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens," he said in the video.

Parton's representatives confirmed to The Tennessean that she was battling cancer before her death. The singer's representatives described her battle with cancer as brief. They did not disclose what kind of cancer she had.

When is it appropriate to fly the flag at half-staff?

There are certain commemorative days when it is customary to lower the flag to half-staff:

Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day)
Memorial Day (last Monday in May, from sunrise to noon)
Patriot Day (Sept. 11)
National Firefighters Memorial Day (typically a Sunday during Fire Prevention Week)
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Dec. 7)

The flag is also lowered for the death of principal figures of the U.S. government and the government of a state, territory, or possession, and for tragic events.

How long does the flag remain at half-staff?

According to the U.S. Flag Code, codified by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, flags are to be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the federal government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories and possessions for these periods:

Thirty days after the death of a president or former president
Ten days after the death of a vice president, the chief justice, a retired chief justice, or the speaker of the House of Representatives
From the day of death until the burial of an associate justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of a military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state, territory, or possession.
On the day of, and the day after, the death of a member of Congress.

For other instances, proclamations will determine the length of time. In this case, the flags will remain lowered until 6 p.m. Sept. 1.

Where do flags fly at half-staff or half-mast?

A presidential order requires flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations and on all naval vessels in the United States and its territories. Flags at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations, will also be flown at half-staff.

A state-issued flag change comes from the governor, and flags at the state capitol building and/or all state- and county-run public facilities are lowered to half-staff.