The iconic country music star Dolly Parton was laid to rest during a private funeral in Nashville on Friday, her family announced.
Parton, who passed away at the age of 80 on August 25 after bravely battling cancer, was entombed at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum beside her husband of 60 years, Carl Thomas.
On Saturday, Parton’s great-niece Lainey Parton shared an emotional post on Instagram, revealing that she had waited until after the funeral to express her feelings. “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.”
“Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers,” Lainey continued. “She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
The private ceremony was attended only by immediate family, according to People. Parton had previously arranged for her name to be engraved on the mausoleum plaque, along with an engraving of the cabin in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she spent her childhood.
Later on Saturday, Parton’s niece Jada Star performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as part of a tribute concert. She sang “The Orchard,” a song she had recorded with Parton for the 2024 album “Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables.”
Before the performance, Star posted on Instagram, saying, “I am walking around in a fog of sadness, like all of you have.”
“I do not take this honor lightly. I will stand on that stage tonight, the stage she loved so much, and share my song I wrote for her and for my whole family.”
On Monday, Parton’s estate announced DollyFest, a two-weekend event scheduled for next year in Nashville and London. Parton had been planning the festival for January 2026 but had to postpone due to health concerns.
In a press release, Parton’s manager Danny Nozell stated, “As far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted.” He added that they would instead focus on the festival concept that Parton had dreamed up.
Last week, Parton’s team confirmed that her ongoing projects would be realized, including a coffee line, a home decor collection, and a Broadway musical set to open in New York later this year.
Nozell said, “Dolly worked up until the day she died. As the leader of the team overseeing her legacy, we will ensure that her unfinished dreams are brought to life.”
Other active projects include the Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, both set to open next month in Nashville. Additionally, Dolly Dolls and a line of Dolly’s Dog Treats are expected to be released soon.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to be made to the Imagination Library, the organization Parton founded to promote literacy and reading among children.
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