Dolly Parton’s loved ones gather at Nashville burial site days after her death
Dolly Parton’s emotional loved ones gathered at her Nashville burial site, Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, on Friday morning.
Page Six obtained exclusive photos of about a dozen of Parton’s closest relatives — including her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, who previously announced her death on behalf of the family — arriving at the cemetery looking somber.
Shortly before the dressed-up group arrived with flowers, an insider told us the gravesite was “crawling with cops” and that one officer even revealed, “The family is en route.”
We’re told Seaver appeared to be “in charge” of the gathering, as he coordinated with police and security personnel and greeted people when they arrived.
It’s unclear whether the funeral took place, but Parton’s rep previously told us that the “small and private service” would be for “immediate family,” at her request.
The legendary country artist, actress and cultural icon died on Aug. 25 at age 80 following a “brief battle” with unspecified cancer.
She will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband of 58 years, Carl Dean, who died last March at age 82.
By Wednesday, Parton’s name was already inscribed on the bronze frontispiece of the tomb, which depicts a bucolic mountain scene from the couple’s native Tennessee.
Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum is also the final resting place for Dean’s parents and numerous country musicians, including Parton’s collaborator Porter Wagoner and her friend Tammy Wynette.
It’s believed the Grammy winner will be buried in a cotton dress and her signature stilettos.
“Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because, after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest,” Seaver said in part when sharing the news of her passing.
Parton previously explained she wanted the country-gospel song “If We Never Meet Again” to be sung at her funeral.
“[The song] talks about, ‘If we never meet again this side of heaven, I will meet you on that beautiful shore, where the charming roses bloom forever and where separation come no more,’” she said in a May 2014 interview, adding that it was her dad’s “favorite” and they played it at his funeral.
Parton’s loved ones requested fans make donations to her Imagination Library free book gifting program in lieu of sending flowers.
Fans are also encouraged to tag @DollyParton in their social media tributes and leave messages on her website.
The entrepreneur and celebrated philanthropist died at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center days after reportedly being hospitalized with “kidney and autoimmune issues” on Aug. 20.
In an interview that wasn’t published until the following day, Parton admitted she had been “dealing with some health issues that [she] just didn’t pay attention to” while caring for Dean prior to his death.
Two months after he died, the singer-songwriter lamented that she would be putting her music projects “on hold” because she couldn’t “afford the luxury getting emotional.”
Family members, friends, peer and fans have been mourning Parton all week, with Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Bob Mackie, John Mayer, Julia Roberts and Harry Styles leading the emotional tributes.
