A leadership lesson for Nigeria from Dolly Parton, By Dakuku Peterside

Country music icon Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80 after a private family funeral. She was laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Tennessee, reportedly next to her late husband, Carl Dean. The news of her death came last week following a brief struggle with cancer. In a heartfelt Instagram post about the funeral, Parton's great-niece, Lainey Parton, expressed her grief, saying, "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." Lainey recalled countless fond memories of her grandmother, praising her unconditional love and unwavering belief in her own abilities. She noted that Dolly never questioned her choice to attend beauty school instead of college, financially supporting her through school and helping launch her career.

Lainey also revealed that she appeared on Dolly Parton's album "Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables," a memory she holds dear. She expressed that Dolly's presence and voice will forever be cherished, and she misses her grandmother immensely. Lainey thanked fans for their support during this difficult time, and the post followed a proposal to rename an airport in Nashville in honor of the late singer.

Dolly Parton is widely recognized for her chart-topping hits like "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You," and was inducted into Nashville's Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986.