Mississippi mayor defies Trump's order and refuses to lower flag for Dolly Parton, saying the honour should be 'reserved' for fallen heroes
Bryan Seaver, Dolly Parton's nephew and head of security who announced her death on Tuesday, was seen overseeing arrangements as police ringed Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville.Dolly Parton will be interred beside Carl Dean in a bronze-panelled tomb depicting a Tennessee mountain landscape, as the state's governor moves to rename Nashville International Airport in her honour.
Ken Adams, mayor of Olive Branch, Mississippi, has publicly refused to lower the American flag to half-staff for Dolly Parton despite direct orders from both President Trump and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves to do so for one week. Adams wrote on the city's Facebook page that the honour should be reserved for military heroes, fallen first responders and presidents, warning that lowering it for beloved celebrities would eventually 'lessen the meaning of the gesture'. He insisted his stand was not about disrespecting Parton, calling her a 'great person' who 'brought happiness to millions', but about protecting the flag's significance.
Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff nationwide after Parton died aged 80 on Tuesday following a brief cancer battle.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is separately seeking to rename Nashville International Airport after Parton, with her team said to be open to the idea.
Bill Maher also drew backlash after complaining on his show 'Real Time' that America 'could really only talk about' Parton's death while a trade war with Canada raged.
