Dolly Parton’s funeral plans revealed after her death at age 80

Dolly Parton’s funeral will consist of “a small, private service for immediate family” after her death at age 80.

The funeral plans are at Parton’s “request,” her publicly team confirmed a statement to Page Six on Tuesday.

TMZ reported that the intimate ceremony is being planned in Nashville, Tennessee, “in the coming days,” with her closest family and loved ones expected to be in attendance.

Parton’s reps told us that “in lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Imagination Library,” her free book-gifting program.

Additionally, Parton’s team encouraged her “fans and friends from around the world” to pay tribute to the late country singer by tagging her on social media or leaving a message on her website.

Parton passed away on Tuesday, five days after she was reportedly hospitalized in Nashville for kidney and autoimmune issues.

Her cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

The latest news on music icon Dolly Parton’s death at 80

While sharing the tragic news, Parton’s nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, revealed the music icon requested she be laid to rest in a “beautiful bed of plush cotton” before her death.

“After a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest,” Seaver added.

Seaver also explained that the tragic video announcement was “something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality.”

Just days before her death, Parton told People she was “dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to” when she was caring for her late husband Carl Dean Thomas, who died in March 2025 at age 82.

She added, “It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.”

Within the last year, Parton skipped multiple Dollywood appearances due to health issues such as kidney stones.

She was also still mourning Thomas’ tragic death.

“Of course I miss him. I’m having to really go through a lot trying to figure out how to be without him because I was with him for so long,” Parton told Entertainment Tonight in May 2025, two months after losing her longtime partner to an unspecified prolonged illness.

The Grammy Award winner added, “He did suffer a lot for the last few years, and there’s a part of me that’s happy he’s at peace and at rest.”