Dolly Parton buried beside husband Carl Dean after ‘very simple’ funeral, niece confirms
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Dolly Parton’s niece, Lainey Mae Parton, confirmed that the country music icon was laid to rest on Friday, August 28, following her death at age 80 after a “brief battle” with cancer.
Lainey shared an emotional tribute to her aunt on Instagram, remembering her as a source of unconditional support and love. Parton was buried beside her husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville.
Dolly Parton’s niece mourns her beloved aunt
Lainey confirmed the funeral in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, writing that she had waited until after her “granny was laid to rest yesterday” before putting her feelings into words.
She captioned the post with a slideshow of pictures showing Parton with various family members.
She praised Parton, who was known as “Aunt Granny” to her nieces and nephews, for always making her feel supported and capable.
“She 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,” Lainey further wrote. She also reflected on the special bond Parton shared with her family.
“Most people can think of at least one bad memory with everyone in their family,” Lainey wrote while adding, “I honestly can’t think of one with her.”
She noted that Parton was unable to have children of her own and therefore made her nieces and nephews feel like they were “hers.”
She heartbreakingly added, “It still doesn’t feel real that she’s gone. I’m going to miss her voice, her laugh, her hugs, and just knowing she was there.”
Dolly Parton laid to rest beside Carl Dean
Page Six reported that Parton’s loved ones gathered Friday at her Nashville burial site, Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum.
A source confirmed that the gathering was the funeral and described the ceremony as “very simple” because “that’s all Dolly wanted.”
Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and head of security, was in charge of the arrangements. Parton was laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Carl Dean.
The longtime couple were married for 58 years before Dean died last March at age 82.
The two famously met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat on the day an 18-year-old Parton moved to Music City. Dean was 21 at the time.
The Grammy winner was reportedly set to be buried in a cotton dress and her signature stilettos. Seaver previously revealed that Parton wanted to rest in a “beautiful bed of plush cotton” after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones.
An obituary described Parton as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright and author who “died peacefully” on August 25.
It remembered her as an inspiration through her music, songwriting, wit, warmth and kindness, while praising her commitment to making the world a better place.
