Tributes are pouring in from around the world to music icon Dolly Parton after her death aged 80. The singer-songwriter died on Tuesday after “a brief battle with cancer,” leaving behind an extraordinary legacy in country music and philanthropy.
Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Sir Elton John led tributes on social media, while landmarks around the US were lit up pink in her honour, including the Empire State Building in New York and the Pacific Park Ferris Wheel in Los Angeles.
As the world remembers the beloved Queen of Country, many fans may wonder how she will be laid to rest. Keep reading to find out all we know about her funeral plans so far.
Dolly Parton’s funeral plans
In a statement shared on Dolly’s official social media pages, her family said that a small, private service will be held for immediate family, at Dolly’s request.
© WireImageHer fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com.
The statement also revealed that in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com.
© Getty ImagesAccording to its official website, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a “book gifting programme devoted to inspiring a love of reading in the hearts of children everywhere,” which launched in the US in 1995 and now spans five countries, including the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Australia. The organisation has gifted more than 300,000 books in total.
“When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true,” Dolly said in a statement shared on the website. “I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer.
© WireImage“The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world.”
According to TMZ, Dolly will be laid to rest in Nashville beside her late husband, Carl Dean.
Dolly Parton’s death and recent health issues
Dolly’s death was announced by her family on Tuesday. Her publicist Marcel Pariseau said: “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre surrounded by loved ones.”
During her final interview, published in People Magazine on 21 August, Dolly opened up about her recent health challenges.
“I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” said the musician, whose late husband died in March 2025 aged 82.
© DollyParton.com“It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health. But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago,” she continued. “I used to joke that I was the queen of the tabloids, but now I guess I can say I’m the queen of social media AI. Seriously though, even though I’m still healing, I’m still working.”
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