Dolly Parton, civic icon
In the most American fashion, when Dolly Parton saw things that needed doing, she did them.
Dolly Parton passed away last week following a battle with cancer at the age of 80. Her body was laid to rest in a private ceremony. Her great-niece, Lainey Parton, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, expressing her gratitude for her grandmother's unwavering love and support. Lainey described Dolly as someone who always made her feel like she was enough, even before Lainey could believe in herself.
In response to Parton's passing, the estate announced Dollyfest, a two-day festival set to take place in Nashville and London over two consecutive weekends in 2027. The festival will celebrate Parton's life and legacy, a seven-decade career filled with iconic music and a commitment to inspiring others. The Dollyfest announcement came after her initial plans to host the event in January 2026 had to be postponed due to Parton's health issues.
Organiser Danny Nozell explained that the festival is a testament to Parton's own philosophy of "What Dolly Would Do," rather than a traditional memorial service. Details regarding ticket sales and event dates are still forthcoming.
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- Tennessee Volunteers to honor late Dolly Parton with a helmet sticker this season apnews.com
- Dolly Parton laid to rest in private Nashville funeral, family says globalnews.ca
- Dolly Parton laid to rest at private service as Dollyfest announced abc.net.au
- Tennessee Volunteers to honor late Dolly Parton with a helmet sticker this season winnipegfreepress.com
