Trump says Dolly Parton's death feels like losing ‘a member of the family’, claims ‘she really liked me’

President Donald Trump expressed that Dolly Parton's death feels like losing a family member, praising her as a unique cultural icon.

Published on: Aug 26, 2026, 21:14:35 IST

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President Donald Trump likened the passing of country music legend Dolly Parton to the loss of a cherished family member, as he reflected on a cultural figure admired by Americans across the political spectrum.

During an interview on conservative commentator Glenn Beck's radio show, Trump said, "She was unique. She was amazing. And to lose her, it's like you lose a member of the family. You know, we all knew her so well."

Trump mentioned that Parton had a personal fondness for him, while also highlighting her well-known decision to remain apolitical, which has enabled her to avoid alienating half of her fanbase.

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"I knew her a little bit. She wasn't a very political person. She really liked me, I will tell you," the POTUS said. “But she was also of the opinion ‒ you know, the 50%, who needs to lose? I don't think it's 50, I think it's probably 20% of the fans, OK? Not 50. But she was a great person. She was just a nice person. I liked her a lot.”

Dolly Parton's death: Flags at half-mast nationwide

Following the announcement of Parton's death on August 25, Trump mandated that American flags be lowered nationwide.

Parton’s family announced on Tuesday that she passed away at the age of 80 after a brief struggle with cancer.

Since then, tributes for Parton have emerged from both political parties. Trump declared on Truth Social on Tuesday that flags nationwide would be flown at half-mast in her memory.

Former President Barack Obama honored Parton in a post on X, stating, “it’s hard to imagine many people having a bigger impact than Dolly Parton.”

Dolly Parton's political affiliation

Parton never disclosed her political affiliation and generally refrained from public political endorsements. Nevertheless, the singer was an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights and publicly opposed several anti-transgender laws in her home state of Tennessee in 2023.

Parton has also advocated for various other initiatives, such as childhood literacy and research on the coronavirus.

She always maintained in her interviews that "I don't do politics."

Parton declined invitations to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from both President Trump and former President Joe Biden.

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