Dolly Parton ‘Laid to Rest’ After Private Funeral, Family Says

Dolly Parton was laid to rest after a private funeral in Nashville, the country legend’s family said, days after her death at the age of 80.

The singer’s great-niece Lainey Parton — who referred to Dolly as “Aunt Granny” — posted on social media Saturday, “I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words 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.”

People reports that only immediate family attended the private funeral — “at Dolly’s request, a small, private service,” her reps previously said — at Nashville’s Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, the same cemetery where Parton’s late husband Carl Dean was interred in a mausoleum in March 2025; the large plaque mounted on the mausoleum also had Parton’s name engraved on it before she died, as well as an engraving of her Sevier County, Tennessee home.

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“A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family,” Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum’s obituary said. 

“Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, kindness, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”