Dolly Parton’s family has confirmed funeral plans for the country music legend following her death at 80.
The “Jolene” singer’s loved ones shared details of the private service in a statement posted to her official Instagram account on Monday. Her family announced that Parton, 80, had requested a small ceremony limited to immediate family members only. The post did not specify a date or location for the gathering.
“At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family,” the family wrote on Instagram.
The statement also invited the global fanbase that Parton built over six decades to participate in their own way. Her family encouraged those wishing to honor her memory to take their tributes online rather than gathering in person.
“Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message,” the Instagram post continued.
Beyond social media tributes, the family directed supporters toward a cause that defined much of Parton’s philanthropic legacy. They asked for donations to be sent to her Imagination Library, the literacy program she founded in 1995 that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school. The charity has distributed more than 200 million books across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia.
The death announcement came from within Parton’s own family circle. Her nephew revealed the news in a video statement that her family described as devastating. The nephew noted in his remarks that “her spirit will live with us forever,” according to the family’s social media post.
The passing of the Tennessee-born star prompted public statements from political figures as well. The president spoke out following her death, though the family’s Instagram announcement did not quote his specific remarks. Scotland’s First Minister also expressed being “deeply saddened” by the loss, reflecting Parton’s international reach beyond American country music audiences.
The timing of her death carried particular weight given her recent public comments. Just four days before her family announced she had died, Parton had spoken about her future ambitions in what became one of her final interviews. “I still have so many things I want to achieve,” she said, according to reports of that conversation.
Her health had also drawn concern in her final years, particularly as she navigated personal loss. The “9 to 5” singer had faced the death of her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at 82 after nearly 60 years of marriage. She admitted in interviews that she “didn’t pay attention” to her own health issues while focused on caring for Dean during his illness. Dean’s will was revealed seven months after his passing, though details of its contents were not included in the family’s funeral announcement.
The family statement did not address whether Parton had suffered from any specific health conditions in the days leading up to her death, nor did it mention the cause.
In the viral moment that preceded her death, Parton had remained professionally active despite her personal losses. She continued recording and performing through her late seventies, releasing a rock album in 2023 and making regular appearances at Dollywood, the theme park she opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in 1986. Her career spanned more than 50 studio albums, 25 number-one singles on the Billboard country charts, and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. She also crossed into film and television, earning Oscar nominations for her theme songs and appearing in movies alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
Stars from across entertainment have begun paying tribute to Parton as her family shared ways to honor the country icon. The family’s Instagram post serves as the central hub for official information about memorial arrangements, with the private service expected to take place before any public commemorations.