Dolly Parton wanted a ‘small’ funeral …her cousin reveals
Dolly Parton’s cousin opened up about the late country singer’s intimate burial after her death at 80. “She wanted to keep it very quiet,” Richie Owens said on the “Today” show Thursday. “The word keeps getting brought up, ‘a funeral.’ I don’t believe that is really the case in the situation. “It was a burial to be buried beside her husband, […] The post Dolly Parton wanted a ‘small’ funeral …her…
Dolly Parton's cousin, Richie Owens, spoke about the late country singer's desire for a quiet burial on the "Today" show. "She wanted to keep it very quiet," Owens said, clarifying that the term "funeral" was misleading. The burial took place in Nashville on August 28, 2025, alongside Parton's husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who passed away in March 2025 at the age of 82.
According to Owens, only a few close loved ones were present at the burial, as others who wished to attend were occupied with other matters. Owens explained that Parton kept her cancer battle private from the public before her death on August 25, 2025. She only shared her health struggles with a few individuals, including her family, to maintain a positive atmosphere around her.
Parton was laid to rest in Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, just as she wished. A dozen of her loved ones gathered at the burial site, with Bryan Seaver, Parton's nephew and head of security, announcing her passing. Seaver coordinated the burial, working alongside police and security personnel. Parton was reportedly buried in a cotton dress and her signature stilettos, as she desired comfort in her final resting place after years of wearing heavy rhinestones.
Written by urgent.news from The Chronicle Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
