Dolly Parton’s Funeral Arrangements: What She Requested

Before her death, Dolly Parton requested that she be laid to rest in a "small, private" funeral for her immediate family, according to her loved ones. ByAug 25, 2026 8:37 PMTagsDolly Parton Shared How She Wanted to Be Remembered Before DeathDolly Parton wanted to be laid to rest surrounded by her nearest and dearest. And her loved ones plan to honor the country music legend's wishes in the wake of her death at 80. As they shared in an Aug. 25 statement detailing funeral arrangements, "At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family." However, her family went on to detail the ways they can honor Parton’s memory. "Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com," the statement continued. "In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library." Indeed, the Imagination Library—a reading program founded by Parton in 1995 that provides free books to children—was a cause close to the "9 to 5" singer's heart. In fact, she considered her work as "the book lady" more important than her musical legacy.“My dad couldn't read or write and that was kind of crippling to him," Parton, whose organization has gifted more than 332 million books to kids since its inception, shared in her 2020 documentary The Library That Dolly Built. "Of all the things I’ve done in my life—and it’s been a lot because I’ve been around a long time—this is one of the most precious things and the proudest I’ve been of any program I’ve ever been involved in." In their statement, Parton's loved ones described the Grammy winner 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."Miller Mobley/NBC via Getty Images"With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place," they continued "Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact." And, according to Parton's nephew Bryan Seaver, one of her final request was to be buried "in a beautiful bed of plush cotton." "Because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones," he added in an Aug. 25 video sharing news of Parton's death, "she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest." For a look back on Parton’s storied life and legacy, keep reading…Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images1955Nancy Barr Brandon/MediaPunch/Shutterstock1960Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images1965Nancy Barr Brandon/MediaPunch/ShutterstockLate 1960sMichael Ochs Archives/Getty Images1974MediaPunch/Shutterstock1975NBC/NBCU Photo Bank1977Gary Null/NBC197720th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock19809 to 5Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock1982The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasNBC/NBCU Photo Bank1989Tri-Star/Kobal/Shutterstock1989Steel MagnoliasPaul DrinkwaterNBC/NBCU Photo Bank1990Gary Null/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank1991Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank1993Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank1994Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank1995Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank1999NBC/NBCU Photo Bank1999Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank2003Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank2008Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire2012Douglas Gorenstein/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank2014Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire2014Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank2015Quantrell Colbert/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank2015Virginia Sherwood/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank2016Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank2018Katherine Bomboy/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank2019Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank2019For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App