Dolly Parton has been laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Carl Dean, in an intimate service in Nashville
Country icon, Dolly Parton, has been laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Carl Dean, following her heartbreaking death aged 80, which has left fans around the world in mourning
Dolly Parton was adamant she didn’t want a fuss over her funeral(Image: AP)
Dolly Parton was adamant she didn’t want a fuss over her funeral. The Country legend, who died this week aged 80, has left the world in mourning after a “brief battle” with cancer.
The much-loved star, who touched the lives of so many with her charitable nature and rhinestones of wisdom was laid to rest this weekend and her final wishes were carried out to the letter.
Opting against a huge ceremony, strewn with paparazzi – which would be expected for one of the world’s greatest performers – her family instead announced that the star wanted a private farewell attended only by those closest to her.
“At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family,” they said.
Dolly is now at peace, laid to rest next to her husband as her heartbroken family fulfil her funeral wishes on a day they prayed would never come. Here are all the poignant, personal touches…
Dolly Parton is laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Carl Dean(Image: Dolly Parton)
Beside her beloved husband forever
Dolly is laid to rest beside her beloved husband Carl Dean as the first images of their heartbreaking tomb have emerged online.
Around a dozen of the singer’s family were at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville on Friday morning.
It has not been confirmed whether Friday’s gathering was the funeral itself. However, Page Six reports that relatives arrived carrying flowers while police and security were present around the cemetery.
Dolly’s nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security, was among those seen arriving and was reportedly helping to coordinate proceedings. Her final resting place will reunite Dolly with Carl, her husband of 58 years, who died aged 82 in March 2025.
The mausoleum is also the final resting place of Carl’s parents, Virginia “Ginny” Bates and Edgar “Ed” Dean.
While Dolly has also surrounded herself with some of her favourite people as a huge number of other Country and Western stars are also buried at the same mausoleum.
Musicians, including George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Marty Robbins are all laid to rest at the Woodlawn Memorial Park making sure dearest Dolly is in good company.
The couple’s tomb features a bronze front depicting a peaceful mountain landscape inspired by their native Tennessee
Dolly’s tomb with homage to childhood home
In pH๏τos released today, the couple’s tomb features a bronze front depicting a peaceful mountain landscape inspired by their native Tennessee. Dolly’s name had already been added alongside her husband’s following her death.
The plaque also pictures what appears to be Dolly’s humble childhood home next to an engraving of Carl’s.
Dolly’s tomb features a plaque with an engraving of her childhood home
Long before Dolly became one of the most successful entertainers in the world, she grew up in a tiny log cabin in the Tennessee mountains with her parents and 11 siblings.
The home had no electricity or running water, but Dolly was adament she didn’t suffer. Instead, she remembered the cabin as the place where her family were blessed to have each other.
‘Beautiful bed of plush cotton’
Dolly was reportedly laid to rest wearing a comfortable cotton dress and her trademark high heels. When breaking the news of her death, her nephew Bryan revealed she had spoken to him about wanting comfort.
He said in the video, “Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because, after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.”
While she prioritised comfort with the dress, it’s understood her trademark glamour will be kept intact by choosing to wear her signature stilettos for her final rest.
Heartbreaking funeral song
Dolly revealed years before her death that there was a special song she hoped would form part of her own farewell.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in 2014, she chose the country-gospel song If We Never Meet Again, which had also been played at her father’s funeral.
Explaining its significance, she said: “That was my Daddy’s favourite. We did sing it at his funeral, and I would like it to be sung at mine.”
