Dolly Parton has been laid to rest in Nashville, Tennessee, days after her death. Her niece, Lainey Mae Parton, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, reflecting on the private moments and support she received from her "Granny."
"This is a really hard post for me to make," Lainey Mae wrote. "I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words." She added that her "granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough" and never made her dreams seem too big.
Lainey Mae recalled being asked to sing with Parton on her "Smoky Mountain DNA" album as a freshman in high school, an experience that made her feel safe and confident. She also shared how Parton financially supported her through beauty school and helped her start her career.
"Because she couldn't have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers," Lainey Mae said. "She loved us that way, and I'll forever be grateful for that."
Parton died peacefully in Nashville following a brief battle with cancer, according to a press release. Her team stated that she "spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched." The statement also highlighted her generosity, including distributing over 300 million books through her Imagination Library and funding research that aided in the creation of a lifesaving vaccine.
Parton's seven-decade career produced hits such as "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," and "I Will Always Love You." She also appeared in films like "9 to 5," "Steel Magnolias," and "Joyful Noise."
Parton's lifelong marriage to Carl Dean, who died in March 2025, was largely private. Beyond her music and acting, she built a business empire in Tennessee with Dollywood and left a significant charitable legacy through the Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library.
Inspired by her father, who was unable to read or write, the Imagination Library initiative mails free books to children from birth until kindergarten, expanding into an international program.
According to a tribute from her nephew, Parton requested to be buried in a bed of soft cotton, desiring comfort after a lifetime of wearing heavy rhinestones.