Dolly Parton was laid to rest in a private funeral service attended by family on Friday, according to her niece.
Lainey Parton shared an emotional tribute post on Instagram on Saturday, writing: “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.”
Parton died Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer at age 80. Her social media pages said that at her request, a small private service would be held for immediate family.
Lainey remembered Parton as a loving and inspiring figure who “believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself.”
“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,” she wrote.
Lainey shared a slew of photos from growing up with Parton, some from childhood and others taken onstage with the country star.
Lainey recalled singing with Parton on her 2024 “Smoky Mountain DNA” album, which included various Parton family members.
“I was a freshman in high school and SO nervous. But 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,” Lainey recalled.
She said the music icon backed her decision to attend beauty school and helped her fund it.
“She didn’t just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there,” she said.
“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 onto when I miss her,” she continued.
While the family — and the world beyond — mourns Parton’s passing, Lainey said she’s holding on to the precious memories she shared with her “granny.”
“It still doesn’t feel real that she’s gone. I’m going to miss her voice, her laugh, her hugs, and just knowing she was there. I’m even going to miss those 4 AM calls, and I’d give anything to see her name pop up on my phone again,” she said.
“I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny. Thank you for always believing in me, loving me, and making me feel like I could do anything. I love you, Granny. Always,” she said, concluding her post.
The “Jolene” singer hailed from rural Tennessee, born into a large but tight-knit family. She was one of 12 children, and as her own family expanded, Parton maintained an incredibly close relationship with her siblings, nieces and nephews.
Her death sparked widespread mourning and emotional tributes from her fans, Hollywood and the music industry. The 11-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter was more than just an artist. She was an icon who transcended genre and time, a philanthropist focused on children and poverty, and a businesswoman.
Parton was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Carl Thomas Dean, who died in 2025, and her parents, Avie Lee Caroline Owens and Robert Lee Parton Sr.
