Olive Branch, Mississippi, Mayor Ken Adams has stated his opposition to lowering the American flag to half-staff in honor of country music icon Dolly Parton, arguing that such a gesture should be reserved for "truly extraordinary circumstances" to maintain its significance.
President Donald Trump and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves had ordered U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff for one week following Parton's death at age 80. Adams, however, expressed his belief that lowering the flag should be reserved for military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents, and other major national leaders, or events with a tremendous impact on the country.
"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," Adams wrote on the city's Facebook page. He emphasized that his stance was not about disrespecting Parton, whom he called a "great person" who "brought happiness to millions of people and has done tremendous things for others throughout her life."
Adams noted that while local governments are not obligated to disregard directives from the president or governor, Mississippi's "Home Rule" grants local governments broad discretion. He stated that mayors should have the ability to make decisions for their respective cities and that residents elected him to lead with conviction, not to blindly follow orders.
He reiterated that his position was not political and did not question Parton's status as a great American, but rather a matter of preserving the weight of the honor. "Sometimes preserving the meaning of an honor means being selective about when we use it," he said.
Adams' comments sparked debate in the Facebook post's comments section, with some users arguing that Parton's contributions, such as her literacy initiatives and philanthropic work, warranted the honor. One commenter suggested she had done more for children than any politician, while another described her as "probably the most unifying figure of the past 40 years."
It remained unclear if Adams' statement meant the flag would not be lowered in Olive Branch. Fox News Digital reached out to Adams' office for further comment.