Country music legend Dolly Parton has been laid to rest beside her late husband, Carl Dean, in a private family funeral in Nashville, Tennessee.

Parton, who died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer, was buried on Friday, August 28, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville. Only immediate family members attended the intimate service.

Her great-niece, Lainey Parton, confirmed the burial in an emotional tribute shared after the funeral. She described Dolly as her “granny” and remembered her as a loving and supportive figure who encouraged her family to pursue their dreams.

Lainey said Dolly had always made her feel accepted and supported, adding that the singer not only encouraged her dreams but also helped her achieve them. She expressed gratitude for having had the opportunity to call the country music icon her grandmother figure.

Dolly was laid to rest beside Carl Dean, her husband of nearly 60 years. Dean died in March 2025 at the age of 82. The couple married in 1966 and maintained a famously private relationship despite Parton’s extraordinary international fame.

The burial site at Woodlawn features a bronze plaque bearing the names of both Parton and Dean, along with imagery connected to their Tennessee roots. Fans have also been able to visit the site to pay their respects.

Tributes to Parton have continued across Nashville and beyond. A special concert at the Grand Ole Opry brought together several performers to celebrate her life and music. Her niece, Jada Star, performed “The Orchard,” a song she recorded with Parton, while country star Jelly Roll joined Carly Pearce for a performance of Parton’s famous hit “9 to 5.”

Parton’s influence extended far beyond music. During her seven-decade career, she became one of country music’s most celebrated singers and songwriters while also building a major philanthropic legacy. Her Imagination Library has provided free books to children, and her family has asked those wishing to honor her memory to consider donations to the organisation instead of sending flowers.

Although Parton has now been laid to rest, her legacy is expected to continue through her music, charitable work and projects she had developed before her death. Her estate has also announced plans for DollyFest, a celebration of her life and music scheduled to take place in Nashville and London in 2027.

The private farewell reflected the simplicity and intimacy that characterised much of Parton’s personal life, bringing the legendary entertainer to her final resting place beside the man she shared almost six decades of marriage with.