Country music legend Dolly Parton will be laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, beside her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean. Dean, a businessman who largely avoided the public eye, died in March 2025 at the age of 82. Parton's name was already inscribed on his memorial stone, signifying their enduring bond.
The serene, oak-lined cemetery is a departure from the public life Parton lived for over six decades. Woodlawn Memorial Park is home to the graves of other country music figures, including George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Marty Robbins, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Porter Wagoner. Wagoner gave Parton her significant career break in 1967, and they later performed duets before her pursuit of a solo career led her to write "I Will Always Love You."
Parton's representatives announced her death on Tuesday, stating she passed away after a brief battle with cancer at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by loved ones. She was 80 years old. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
The couple met in Nashville in 1964 and married in 1966. Dean ran an asphalt-paving business and was known for his preference for a private life away from the spotlight. Parton had spoken about the adjustment to life without him after his passing, telling People magazine in an interview prior to her death that "It's a big adjustment just to change patterns and habits."
Concerns for Parton's health had arisen in late September when she postponed her Las Vegas residency due to unspecified "health challenges." She had also canceled appearances at the opening of a new ride at her Dollywood theme park, citing doctor's orders against travel. In a video message shared at the Dollywood event, which is considered her last public appearance, Parton assured fans that "all was going well on the medical end of things" and that she was still working on projects like her museum and a Broadway show.
Her death was confirmed by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security. Tributes have poured in from fellow artists, including Hillary Clinton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reba McEntire, and Maren Morris, as well as from President Donald Trump, who ordered American flags lowered nationwide for one week in her honor. Fans gathered outside her Nashville home to pay their respects, leaving flowers and signs bearing messages of love and remembrance.