Dolly Parton laid to rest in private family funeral

Dolly Parton has been laid to rest following a private family funeral.

The country music star was reportedly buried alongside her late husband, Carl Dean, at Woodlawn Memorial Park And Mausoleum in Tennessee.

The Jolene and 9 To 5 singer died aged 80 last week following a "brief battle with cancer".

In a post about the funeral on Instagram Parton's great-niece, Lainey Parton, said: "This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words.

"From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough. She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn't do something. She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself.

"Most people can think of at least one bad memory with everyone in their family. I honestly can't think of one with her.

"Because she couldn't have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers. She loved us that way, and I'll forever be grateful for that."

Read more:
From rags to rhinestones - farewell to the Queen of Country

She went on to speak about appearing on Parton's album Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith And Fables, saying it is a memory she will "always hold on to".

She added: "She had a way of making me feel like nothing bad could happen. She made me feel safe, confident, and like I belonged right there beside her.

"As I got older, she continued to believe in me. When I told her I wanted to go to beauty school, she never questioned why I wasn't going to college. She told me she couldn't see me doing anything else. She financially supported me through school and helped me get my career started.

"She didn't just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there.

"I'm so thankful I said yes to the opportunities and memories I got to share with her as my Aunt Dolly, including being in a movie with her. I'm so glad I have those moments to look back on now. I have things I can watch, hear, and hold on to when I miss her."

Lainey added that it "still doesn't feel real that she's gone", and said she would "miss her voice, her laugh, her hugs, and just knowing she was there", adding: "I'd give anything to see her name pop up on my phone again."

She thanked fans for showing their support by sending messages and flowers.

It comes after an airport in Nashville, Tennessee, proposed changing its name in honour of the singer.

Since her death, Parton's music has re-entered the UK charts, including Jolene, which featured at number nine on Friday.

(c) Sky News 2026: Dolly Parton laid to rest in private family funeral