Overview
- Parton’s family announced her death on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at age 80, prompting tributes from across the political spectrum.
- She told NBC’s Today show that she was offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom three times—twice during President Donald Trump’s administration and once during President Joe Biden’s—and declined each offer.
- Parton cited concrete reasons for refusing: her husband’s illness prevented one acceptance, COVID-era travel concerns blocked another, and she later said accepting would look political.
- She also asked Tennessee lawmakers to withdraw a proposed statehouse statue and initially sought removal from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame consideration before the hall inducted her.
- Reporters and fact-checkers corroborated Parton’s account of the three Medal of Freedom offers while the Trump and Biden administrations have not provided comment, and President Trump ordered flags lowered in her honor.