Dolly Parton is laid to rest in Nashville

Dolly Parton was laid to rest Friday in a private family funeral in Nashville, days after the country music legend died at 80 following a brief battle with cancer, her family said.

Her niece, Lainey Parton, shared an emotional Instagram tribute Saturday, saying she had waited until “after my granny was laid to rest” before trying to put her grief into words. The BBC reported that Parton was placed beside her late husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville.

“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.”

Parton’s social media pages had said that, at her request, a small private service would be held for immediate family. The singer, known worldwide for songs including “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” died Tuesday.

Lainey remembered Parton as a constant source of encouragement who helped shape her confidence from childhood. “From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough,” she wrote. “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 also reflected on Parton’s close bond with the younger members of her family. “Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers,” Lainey wrote. “She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

Lainey shared photos from her life with Parton, including childhood pictures and images of the two onstage. She recalled singing with her aunt on the 2024 album “Smoky Mountain DNA,” which featured various members of the Parton family. “I was a freshman in high school and SO nervous,” she wrote. “But she 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.”

Parton also supported Lainey’s decision to attend beauty school and helped fund it. “She didn’t just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there,” Lainey wrote.

“I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny,” she added. “Thank you for always believing in me, loving me, and making me feel like I could do anything. I love you, Granny. Always.”

An obituary posted by Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum remembered Parton for “her timeless music and prolific songwriting,” as well as “her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family.” It said her legacy was “one of love, kindness, and resilience” and cited a seven-decade career that inspired generations of artists and fans. The obituary asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, her program that sends free books to young children.

Parton was born in rural Tennessee into a large, close family and was one of 12 children. She remained close to her siblings, nieces and nephews as her family expanded. She was preceded in death by Dean, her husband of 59 years, who died in 2025, and by her parents, Avie Lee Caroline Owens and Robert Lee Parton Sr.

Tributes continued after her burial. On Saturday, her niece Jada Star performed at a tribute concert at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, singing “The Orchard,” which she recorded with Parton in 2024 for “Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables.” Before the performance, Star wrote that she was “walking around in a fog of sadness” and added, “I do not take this honor lightly.”

The BBC reported that Jelly Roll made a surprise appearance during the event’s finale, a group performance of “9 to 5,” and that Carly Pearce was among the participants. Tennessee’s governor has also announced plans to name Nashville International Airport after Parton. In the United Kingdom, “9 to 5” was on course to reach No. 1 on the singles chart this week after fans streamed it heavily following her death, though the BBC reported that declining streaming numbers could affect its final position.