Country music legend Dolly Parton has been laid to rest following her death at the age of 80.
The ‘Jolene’ hitmaker was farewelled in a private family service, according to her great-niece, Lainey Parton.
Lainey took to Instagram on Saturday, August 29, to share a lengthy tribute to Dolly, in which she revealed that a private funeral had taken place.
She wrote, “This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words.”
Alongside a series of photographs of herself and Dolly over the years, Lainey, 28, affectionately remembered Dolly, whom she called “Granny”.
“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,” she penned.
“Most people can think of at least one bad memory with everyone in their family. I honestly can’t think of one with her.
“Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers. She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
Lainey said she would always treasure the memory of singing on Dolly’s album Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables and praised Dolly for financially and emotionally supporting her through beauty school.
“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. 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,” she continued.
“I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny. Thank you for always believing in me, loving me, and making me feel like I could do anything.
“I love you, Granny. Always.”
Lainey is the daughter of Dolly’s nephew, Clint Warren Parton, and they shared a very close relationship.
World remembers Dolly
Dolly’s death was announced on Tuesday, August 25 (Wednesday, August 26 AEST) by her nephew, Brian Seaver, who worked as Dolly’s head of security.
“My name is Brian Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he said in a video shared to Dolly’s Instagram.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.
“As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it til now.”
No further details have been announced about her death, but she is expected to be farewelled in a small, private service, with only her immediate family attending.
Her representatives told PEOPLE that Dolly had a “brief battle with cancer” and died “surrounded by her loved ones at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
Tributes flock in for the icon
The globe has been sent into mourning, with her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, leading the celebrity tributes.
In a tear-jerking Instagram post, Miley revealed her fondest memories with Dolly and detailed one of their final conversations.
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,” she penned.
“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong.
“I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis.
“I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply.
“We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.”
Julia Roberts, who starred alongside Dolly in Steel Magnolias, also shared her devastation over the loss.
“I hold knowing her as a treasure in my life,” she said.
“The sun has dimmed today.”
Paul McCartney recalled meeting and working with the “magnificent” Queen of Country in a touching message.
“The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad,” he wrote.
“Her songwriting, her singing, and her philanthropy were unrivalled in the world of country music, and it is hard to imagine living in a world without Dolly. She was a very clever businesswoman who understood the value of music and, most importantly, the effect that she had on the people of the world.”
Jane Fonda shared her “devastation” following the passing of her “loyal friend”.
“I just learned that Dolly has moved on. I know that millions are mourning and I want to say this – more than anyone I have ever known, Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever,” she penned.
“I never knew anyone like her. She was simultaneously a naughty, playful southern gal from the hollows of Tennessee and a deep, soulful thinker who could see through people right down to their true selves.
“She was many things…lyricist, songstress, player of many instruments, writer, prankster, visionary, loyal friend, who’d never go to bed before she and her friends had laughed so hard they’d have to cross their legs.”
Reese Witherspoon revealed how Dolly had taken her under her wing when she was cast to play June Carter in Walk the Line alongside Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash.
“I count my lucky stars that I called Dolly my friend. When I was playing June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, she took me to dinner and told me stories of how June Carter charmed everyone in country music,” she shared.
“Dolly gave me the courage to put my whole spirit into that performance and made me see how lucky I was to be a storyteller. Throughout my entire career, she sent me little notes of encouragement and support, telling me to be the light in people’s lives and listen to my angels. Always signed: “I will always love you.”
Jamie Lee Curtis also shared a photograph with Dolly alongside some heartfelt words.
“Her bravery to know that she was more than they thought she was and that she needed to break away and move on into new work and new possibilities led her to write I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, as her way of thanking and loving, but moving on. She is a great example for us all,” she penned.
Sheryl Crow has also honoured Dolly’s legacy and looked back on their years working together.
Sarah Jessica Parker, a huge fan of Dolly’s, echoed the globe’s outpouring of love for her in a social media tribute.
“I felt totally shocked when I heard that she had passed, as if she was never going to ever go,” she told Katie Couric.
“I never met Dolly Parton but my gosh, did I love her,” the Sex & The City star gushed.
“I don’t think any of us had to know her to love her. One of the greatest this country ever produced. Legend. For real.”
Country music star Kacey Musgraves wrote on X, “Dolly. This really, really hurts. The world feels a lot less sparkly all of a sudden.”
Australian actress Danielle MacDonald, who worked with Dolly on the 2018 movie Dumplin‘, reflected on the moment she met the iconic singer.
“It was one of the only times in my life I was actually speechless,” she admitted on Instagram.
“She was not only an icon, but also an extremely talented, kind-hearted, thoughtful, revolutionary powerhouse.
“The way she saw others is the way we wish we could see ourselves, always finding the goodness. The impact she left on me, on the world, will never be forgotten.
“I will always treasure the times I got to be in her presence. Rest in peace Dolly.”
Dolly’s heartbreaking final interview
Dolly gave her devastating last interview just four days before her death.
In the chat with People, Dolly spoke about her health and her late husband, Carl.
“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,’ she said in her final interview.
“But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.
“I used to joke that I was the Queen of the Tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the Queen of Social Media AI! Seriously, though, even though I’m still healing, I’m still working.
“You know me – as I’ve often said – I’ve dreamed myself into a corner, and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I’m gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”
Her health struggles
Dolly had been open about her health struggles over the past year, which led to her cancelling her Las Vegas residency.
She had initially postponed her December 2025 residency for almost a year, until September 2026, before cancelling it.
Sharing the news to Instagram on May 5, Dolly shared that she had some “healing to do” amid an undisclosed health condition.
“It’s gonna take me a little while before I’m up to stage performance level because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit ‘swimmy headed’ as my grandma used to say,” she said at the time.
“And of course, I can’t be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on five-inch heels. And you know that I’m going to be wearing them!”
Dolly explained that she’d “always had problems with kidney stones”, but her immune and digestive systems had suffered over the past three years.
She had previously shared how she had undergone a “few procedures” but kept the details private.
Sadly, Dolly was never able to return to the stage. She last performed on March 14, 2025, for the opening day of Dollywood’s 40th anniversary year, just days after her husband Carl Dean’s death.
Dolly’s devastating grief
Dolly was left heartbroken and never recovered following the death of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl.
Carl passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82, and Dolly told how she had neglected her health following his death.
“When my husband Carl was sick, that was for a long time, and then when he passed, I didn’t take care of myself,” she shared in September 2025.
“I let a lot of things go that I should’ve been taking care of, so anyway, when I got around to it, the doctor said, we need to take care of this. We need to take care of that.”
Dolly fell in love with Carl when she was just 18 years old, and they enjoyed a private life away from the spotlight.
The couple met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat, and they had an instant connection, tying the knot two years later in a simple and private ceremony.
“I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together,” Dolly said upon releasing the heartfelt ballad ‘If You Hadn’t Been There‘ in his memory.
“Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him.”
Dolly previously said that being lifelong friends was the key to their long-lasting marriage.
Read more about their incredible love story here.
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