Family members of country music icon Dolly Parton gathered at the site where she will be laid to rest, days after the singer died aged 80. Around a dozen of her relatives visited Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville on Friday morning, August 28.
Dolly will be buried alongside her late husband, Carl Dean, with images of the couple's final resting place now emerging online. The Jolene singer died on Tuesday, August 25, following what her representatives described as a "brief battle" with cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones at Nashville's Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre.
Private service at Dolly's request
Dolly had previously made her wishes after her death clear, choosing not to have the large public farewell that might have been expected for one of America's most beloved performers. Instead, her family revealed that the star wanted an intimate service attended only by those closest to her.
"At Dolly's request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family," they said. It remains unclear whether the gathering at the cemetery on Friday marked Dolly's funeral. According to Page Six, family members arrived with flowers as police officers and private security kept watch around the grounds.
Among those reportedly in attendance was Dolly's nephew, Bryan Seaver, who also worked as her head of security and was said to be overseeing arrangements on the day.
Resting place alongside Carl Dean
The country music icon will be buried alongside her husband of 58 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at the age of 82. Images published by Page Six show the couple's final resting place, which features a bronze panel depicting a tranquil mountain scene inspired by the Tennessee landscape where they were both born. Following Dolly's death, her name was added beside Carl's on the tomb.
The memorial also features an image believed to show the modest home where Dolly spent her childhood, next to an engraving of Carl's own home, the Mirror reports.
Final wishes and tributes
Her final farewell is expected to be a deeply personal tribute to the country icon and the life she shared with those closest to her. Dolly is also said to have chosen exactly what she wanted to wear when she was laid to rest, opting for a simple cotton dress paired with her signature high heels.
Her nephew Bryan previously shared details of the singer's wishes, revealing that comfort was important after having a lifetime of performing in elaborate outfits covered in rhinestones. When announcing her death, he said: "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."
The family has also asked fans not to send flowers following her death. Instead, those wishing to pay tribute have been encouraged to make a donation to Dolly's Imagination Library. Founded by the singer in 1995, the initiative provides free books to young children and became one of the most significant parts of her philanthropic legacy. Fans around the world have also been given the opportunity to share their own tributes and memories of the country music icon online.
The news of Dolly's passing prompted an immediate wave of tributes from fellow stars and figures across the entertainment world, marking the end of a career that spanned more than 60 years.
Woodlawn Memorial Park paid tribute to the country icon in an obituary, describing her as a "global icon and humanitarian" and highlighting the impact she made away from the stage. The memorial park wrote: "A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family."
Dolly's final resting place is also surrounded by familiar names from the country music world. Woodlawn is where her longtime collaborator Porter Wagoner and friend Tammy Wynette are buried, while Carl's parents are also buried there.
A love story that began in Nashville
Dolly and Carl's love story began long before she became a household name around the world. The pair first crossed paths in Nashville in 1964, when Dolly had just moved to the city at 18 to chase her ambitions of becoming a singer. Carl, who was 21 at the time, met her outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat. Their relationship quickly blossomed and two years later they tied the knot in a small ceremony in Georgia.
They went on to spend almost 60 years together, with Carl deliberately keeping away from the public eye as Dolly's career grew into one of the biggest in country music.
When Carl died last year, Dolly paid an emotional tribute to her husband, describing the pair as "perfect partners". She wrote: "He is in God's arms now and I am okay with that." The singer ended her message with "I will always love you", echoing the title of one of her most famous songs.
Dolly had previously spoken about her own funeral wishes, including a song she hoped would be performed after her death. In a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dolly revealed she selected the country gospel track If We Never Meet Again, which had also been performed at her father's funeral. Explaining why the song held such meaning for her, Dolly said: "That was my daddy's favourite. We did sing it at his funeral, and I would like it to be sung at mine."
