Dolly Parton Picked The Song She Wanted Played At Her Funeral & It Isn’t One Of Her Own
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Dolly Parton served as the voice behind some of the world’s most-loved songs, many of which she wrote herself. Those include “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Wildflowers,” and of course, “I Will Always Love You.”
While many, including the late Whitney Houston, have been honored after their deaths with stunning performances of Dolly’s songs, she had something different in mind for her own funeral. Years before she passed away on August 25, 2026, Dolly named the song she wanted played when she is laid to rest…and it isn’t one of her own.
During a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dolly acknowledged that “I Will Always Love You” would likely be played a lot after her passing (and it has been).
“I’m sure they’ll be playing ‘I Will Always Love You’ when I die, just like they did with Whitney Houston,” she said. “When they picked her coffin up and started in on that song, I started to cry, and I thought, ‘Oh my Lord.’ That’s when it hit me that she was really gone.”
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However, Dolly personally picked a much older and spiritually significant song to have played at her funeral. It’s called “If We Never Meet Again.”
As Dolly explained during her conversation with Entertainment Weekly:
“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. ‘Where the charming roses bloom forever and where separations come no more.'”
“If We Never Meet Again” was written by Albert Brumley in the 1940s. It is also known as “If We Never Meet Again (This Side of Heaven)” and has been performed by several major artists, including Ricky Van Shelton, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Dolly herself.
Although Dolly never recorded the song, she did sing it live.
Dolly also revealed the heartfelt reason why that song meant so much to her. She told Entertainment Weekly, “That was my daddy’s favorite. We did sing it at his funeral, and I would like it to be sung at mine.”
Dolly’s father, Robert Lee Parton, passed away in 2000. Her mother, Avie Lee, died in 2003. Dolly was also preceded in death by her husband, Carl Dean, who passed away in 2025.
Dolly Parton’s Funeral Details Revealed
A press release from Dolly Parton’s team shared that she wished to have a small, private funeral service with only her immediate family in attendance. It remains unknown if a larger, public memorial will be held at a later date.
When Dolly’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, shared a video on her social media pages to announce her passing, he shared one of her other wishes, saying:
“Dolly called me and said she wants 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.”
When speaking to TMZ after his aunt’s death, Bryan confirmed that she will be laid to rest while wearing a cotton dress and a pair of her iconic high heels. He also shared that her final resting place will be beside her husband, Carl Dean, at the Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee.
At the request of Dolly’s family, in lieu of sending flowers, fans may make a donation to her Imagination Library in her memory. The organization has sent over 300 million free books to children around the world since its inception in 1995.
Our hearts and prayers are with all of Dolly’s loved ones and friends during this difficult time…
