Dolly Parton Made Funeral Plans Before She Died: What We Know About Her Final Wishes
on • Updated
Country music legend Dolly Parton died Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80, after a brief battle with cancer.
Details about Dolly Parton’s funeral have emerged following her death.
The “Jolene” singer’s nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, shared the news of her passing in a video posted to social media on Tuesday afternoon. He told fans, “I have imagined the heaviness of this moment, but haven’t truly felt it until now. It is an honor. An honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.”
He added that she was now “in the arms of Jesus” with her husband, Carl Dean, and her parents.
Dolly passed away at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville following a four-day hospitalization.
Details about Dolly’s wishes for her funeral emerged throughout the day on Tuesday. Here’s everything you need to know about Dolly’s funeral, including her special requests.
Dolly made her funeral wishes known before her death.
Dolly desired a small, private funeral ceremony for her immediate family only, according to a press release from Dolly’s team.
Her nephew, Bryan, shared that “she wanted to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.”
In 2014, Dolly told Entertainment Weekly that she had a special song request for her funeral.
“I’m sure they’ll be playing ‘I Will Always Love You’ when I die, just like they did with Whitney Houston,” Dolly said. “But there’s a song called ‘If We Never Meet Again.’ It’s an old country-gospel church song that talks about if we never meet again this side of heaven, I will meet you on that beautiful shore. … That was my daddy’s favorite. We did sing it at his funeral, and I would like it to be sung at mine.”
RELATED: THE SONG DOLLY WANTED PLAYED AT HER FUNERAL IS A SWEET NOD TO HER FATHER
Dolly will be laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, where her late husband, Carl Dean, is also buried.
How can you pay tribute to Dolly?
Fans of Dolly are being asked to share memories and their love of the star on social media by tagging @DollyParton.
Her family asks that donations be made to her Imagination Library in lieu of flowers. Donate to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library HERE.
