Dolly Parton Laid to Rest in Private Nashville Funeral, Family Confirms
Country music icon Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at age 80. Her representative later confirmed the cause of death as a "brief battle with cancer." According to NME, her family has confirmed she was buried in a private funeral on Friday, August 28, at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville. The news was made public by her niece, Lainey Parton, in an Instagram post on Saturday, August 29.
Burial site and family statement
Woodlawn Memorial Park is also the resting place of country musicians Porter Wagoner, George Jones, and Tammy Wynette. Parton's husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, was buried there last year.
In her post, Lainey Parton referred to her aunt as "Aunt Granny," writing that Parton never let her feel a dream was too big, and believed in her before she learned to believe in herself. She added that because Parton had no children of her own, she treated her nieces and nephews as her own kids.
Parton's goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, also paid tribute following her death, saying their most private moments happened after the curtain fell and would stay with her forever.
Airport renaming and tributes from musicians
Also confirmed on Friday, August 28: Nashville International Airport will be renamed in Parton's honor, following a petition that had gathered more than 160,000 signatures.
Several musicians have paid tribute to Parton in concert:
- Kacey Musgraves performed "Here You Come Again" in Boston
- Maisie Peters covered the same song at Reading Festival
- Jack White performed "Jolene" at his London show
- Orville Peck performed "I Will Always Love You"
- Olivia Rodrigo dedicated her duet with Sarah McLachlan at Daisy Chain Fields to Parton