Dolly Parton Rested beside Husband in Nashville After 80‑Year Career

Sun Sep 06 2026 08:33:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Country icon Dolly Parton died at 80; funeral, burial and Grand Ole Opry tribute bring fans to Nashville.

Country legend Dolly Parton was laid to rest beside her late husband Carl Dean at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville, as her great‑niece Lainey Parton released an emotional tribute. A private family funeral on Friday was followed by a public tribute concert at the Grand Ole Opry, where niece Jada Star performed her new song "The Orchard" and fellow artists honored the singer’s legacy. Tennessee’s governor announced plans to rename the Nashville International Airport after Parton, while her hit "9 to 5" surged to the top of UK charts. Fans worldwide paid their respects through flowers, messages and donations to her beloved Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton Rested beside Husband in Nashville After 80‑Year Career

Country icon Dolly Parton, who passed away at the age of 80, was laid to rest beside her husband Carl Dean at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee. The singer’s great‑niece Lainey Parton confirmed the burial and shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram the following day, expressing how “It still doesn’t feel real” and how she will miss her grandmother’s voice, laugh and hugs.

A private funeral on Friday was followed by a tribute concert at Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry House on Saturday. The event featured a line‑up of country stars, including niece Jada Star who performed her new track "The Orchard", which the two recorded together in 2024. Star shared that she felt “walking around in a fog of sadness” before the set, underscoring how deeply she felt the loss of the family legend.

In addition to the performances, the night included surprise appearances by country artists Jelly Roll and Carly Pearce, who joined in a rendition of Parton’s chart‑topping song "9 to 5". The moment turned into a joyous tribute that resonated with fans across the globe.

The impact of Parton’s passing rippled beyond Nashville. Tennessee Governor Greg Smith announced plans to rename the Nashville International Airport in her honor, and her song "9 to 5" topped the UK Official Singles Chart, underscoring her international influence. Fans worldwide expressed their condolences through flowers, messages, and donations to the Imagination Library, an organization she founded to send free books to children.

An obituary posted by Woodlawn Memorial Park memorialised Parton’s “timeless music and prolific songwriting”, her “wit, warmth, and kindness” that “made us all feel like family”. The piece also highlighted her seven‑decade career of inspiring generations and her commitment to making the world a kinder place.

For fans and mourners, the tribute underscored how Dolly’s legacy continues to thrive — in the music that keeps streaming, in the books she gifts to young readers, and in the deeply personal stories she shared with her family and music community.