Dolly Parton, the celebrated singer-songwriter, has been laid to rest, according to her niece, Lainey Mae Parton. In an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, August 28, Lainey Mae confirmed that her aunt was buried on Friday, August 27.
"This is a really hard post for me to make," Lainey Mae wrote, sharing a slideshow of photographs. "I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words."
Page Six reported that Parton's loved ones gathered at her burial site at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville on Friday. A source confirmed to the publication that the gathering was indeed the funeral service.
"Bryan [Seaver, Parton’s nephew and head of security] was in charge of arrangements," the source stated. "It was a very simple ceremony, because that’s all Dolly wanted."
Parton died at age 80 following a brief battle with unspecified cancer. She was buried beside her husband, Carl Dean, who passed away in March. The couple had been married for 58 years.
Lainey Mae Parton, who referred to her aunt as "Aunt Granny," expressed deep grief over her loss, noting that Dolly Parton was a significant source of support in her life. "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," she wrote.
She also reflected on her aunt's unique relationship with her nieces and nephews, stating, "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." Lainey Mae added that she couldn't recall a single negative memory of her aunt, highlighting their strong family bond.
Parton was reportedly set to be buried in a cotton dress and her signature stilettos. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, had previously shared that Parton desired 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."