The mayor of Olive Branch, Mississippi, is refusing to lower the American flag to honor Dolly Parton, arguing that the gesture should be reserved for military heroes, presidents, and fallen first responders rather than celebrities. Mayor Ken Adams made his position public on Friday, days after President Trump ordered all U.S. flags lowered to half-staff for one week following Parton’s death on August 25, 2026, at age 80.
“I believe lowering the American flag to half-staff should mean something very significant,” Adams wrote on the city’s Facebook page. “In my opinion, it should be reserved for our military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents and other major national leaders, or events that have had a tremendous impact on our country.”
Adams acknowledged Parton as a “great person” who “brought happiness to millions of people” and said he had “nothing but respect for her.” However, he expressed concern that lowering flags too frequently diminishes the symbolic weight of the tribute. “If we lower the flag every time a well-known or beloved person passes away, I believe we eventually lessen the meaning of the gesture,” he stated.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves had ordered state flags flown at half-staff statewide following Trump’s directive. Adams invoked Mississippi’s home-rule provision, which grants local governments broad discretion over municipal decisions. “The President can make the decision for the country. The Governor can make the decision for the State of Mississippi. I believe a mayor should have the ability to make a decision for his or her city,” he wrote, adding that he did not believe residents “elected me to be a ‘salute and execute’ Mayor but to lead with conviction.”
Adams’s stance sparked immediate backlash on social media. Commenters highlighted Parton’s philanthropic work, noting that she donated 325 million books to children and supported military and veterans’ organizations. One person who identified as a veteran and first responder wrote, “I’m 100% ok with lowering the flags for Dolly. She gave her time and money to the military and multiple organizations. She earned this.” Another commenter argued that Parton’s unifying cultural impact and charitable legacy justified the honor.
The Olive Branch dispute echoes a similar controversy that unfolded in 2025 when President Trump ordered flags lowered nationwide for conservative activist Charlie Kirk after his death. That directive sparked resistance from local officials across the country. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ordered fire stations not to lower flags for Kirk, though some stations defied her directive. Bergen County, New Jersey, officials also faced backlash for choosing not to lower flags, and West Hollywood faced criticism from both sides—one sign shamed the city for complying with the federal order. An Iowa official similarly refused to comply with the state governor’s order to lower flags for Kirk, citing concerns about the politicization of the tribute.
The flag-lowering practice remains a contentious symbol of national mourning. While Trump’s orders carry significant symbolic weight, they do not legally bind local governments to comply, leaving the decision to individual municipalities. Adams’s refusal underscores the ongoing debate over what circumstances warrant this highest civic honor and who should decide.
Sources
- New York Post — Mayor Ken Adams’s full statement and reasoning for refusing to lower Olive Branch’s flag
- Fox News — Adams’s argument that flags should be reserved for military heroes, presidents, and fallen first responders
- The Tennessean — Confirmation of Adams’s statement and Parton’s death details
- NBC New York — Bergen County’s decision not to lower flags for Charlie Kirk in 2025 and resulting backlash
- NBC Los Angeles — West Hollywood’s flag-lowering decision and criticism it faced in 2025
- The Guardian — Iowa official’s refusal to comply with governor’s order to lower flags for Charlie Kirk in 2025
- White House — Trump’s proclamation ordering flags lowered for Dolly Parton
