Dolly Parton was laid to rest Friday in a private funeral attended only by immediate family, according to her great-niece, Lainey Parton.
Parton died August 25 at age 80 following what her representatives described as a “brief battle with cancer.” Her funeral was held August 28 in Nashville, with the singer’s representatives previously saying the small, private service was being held “at Dolly’s request.”
Details of the service have not been made public. Parton was likely laid to rest beside her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, according to People. Dean died in March 2025 and was interred in a mausoleum at the cemetery.
A large plaque at the site bears both Dean and Parton’s names, their wedding date and a pair of intertwined wedding bands, along with images of two houses, including the home where Parton grew up. She left home at age 18, leaving behind a battered Martin acoustic guitar to launch a career that would make her a star and beloved figure.
Lainey shared her first public thoughts about the funeral in an Instagram post on August 29, accompanying her words with throwback photos of herself with her great-aunt.
She didn’t just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there.“
— Lainey Parton
“This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words,” Lainey wrote.
“From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough. She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn’t do something. She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself,” she continued. “Most people can think of at least one bad memory with everyone in their family. I honestly can’t think of one with her.”
Lainey also reflected on the special role Parton played in her life, writing, “Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers. She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
She recalled singing with Parton on her Smoky Mountain DNA album while she was a freshman in high school. Despite being nervous, Lainey said, Parton “had a way of making me feel like nothing bad could happen. She made me feel safe, confident, and like I belonged right there beside her.”
That support continued as Lainey grew older. When she told Parton she wanted to attend beauty school rather than college, Dolly “never questioned” the decision. She financially supported her through school and helped her launch her career.
“She didn’t just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there,” Lainey wrote.
Lainey also recalled the opportunities she shared with Parton, including appearing in a movie with her, and said she was grateful to have those memories — things she could “watch, hear, and hold onto” after her death.
“It still doesn’t feel real that she’s gone,” Lainey wrote. “I’m going to miss her voice, her laugh, her hugs, and just knowing she was there. I’m even going to miss those 4 AM calls, and I’d give anything to see her name pop up on my phone again.”
She thanked those who had reached out with messages, flowers and other gestures of support, saying she had “noticed every single one” of them.
“I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny,” Lainey concluded. “Thank you for always believing in me, loving me, and making me feel like I could do anything. I love you, Granny. Always. 🤍.”
