Music icon Dolly Parton has been laid to rest following a private family funeral in Nashville, Tennessee, her great-niece has confirmed.
Parton, who died earlier in the week at the age of 80, was buried on Friday beside her late husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville.
Her great-niece, Lainey Parton, paid an emotional tribute a day after the burial, describing the legendary singer as a loving and supportive figure who made members of her family feel cherished.
“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.”
Referring to Parton as “Granny,” she said the music legend had always encouraged her and supported her ambitions.
“From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough,” she said. “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.”
Lainey also recalled Parton’s support during her time in beauty school, saying the singer not only encouraged her to pursue her dreams but helped her achieve them.
“I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny,” she added.
Tributes have continued to pour in across the United States, with candlelight vigils held in several cities.
Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, in an obituary tribute, celebrated Parton’s decades-long contribution to music, philanthropy and public life, describing her legacy as one defined by “love, kindness and resilience.”
The family has also requested that those wishing to honour the singer make donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, her long-running initiative that provides free books to young children.
Meanwhile, Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House hosted a major tribute concert on Saturday, bringing together more than two dozen singers and musicians to celebrate the country music legend’s life and career.
Parton’s niece, Jada Star, was among the performers and delivered an emotional performance of The Orchard, a song she recorded with her aunt in 2024.
Country star Jelly Roll also made a surprise appearance during the finale, joining other performers for a rendition of Parton’s classic hit, 9 to 5. Grammy-winning singer Carly Pearce was also among the artists who paid tribute.
Beyond the music world, plans are reportedly underway to further immortalise Parton’s legacy, with Tennessee officials announcing proposals to name Nashville International Airport after her.
In the United Kingdom, renewed interest in Parton’s music has also pushed 9 to 5 towards the top of the singles chart following a surge in streaming by fans around the world.
Dolly Parton’s death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from across the globe, as fans, family members and fellow musicians continue to celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of one of country music’s most influential and beloved figures.
