Lainey Parton Shares Tribute After Dolly Parton, 80, Is Laid to Rest

Q: Which specific songs did Dolly Parton secretly choose to be played at her private Nashville funeral before her passing?

Dolly Parton had specifically chosen the gospel hymn **“If We Never Meet Again (This Side of Heaven)”** to be sung at her private funeral. She revealed that choice in a 2014 interview with *Entertainment Weekly*, saying the song was her father’s favorite and had been sung at his funeral as well. The lyrics, about meeting again “on that beautiful shore,” reflected the faith-centered tone she wanted for the service. Reports tied to her funeral also note that **“I Will Always Love You”** was widely expected to be played too, because Parton herself had said people would likely include it at her funeral. But the song she personally and explicitly requested was **“If We Never Meet Again.”** So, the specific song she secretly selected in advance was **Albert Brumley’s “If We Never Meet Again (This Side of Heaven),”** with **“I Will Always Love You”** also associated with her expected funeral music.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 30

Friday’s private funeral for Dolly Parton was followed by niece Lainey Parton’s Instagram tribute, posted Saturday after she said she waited until her “granny” had been laid to rest.
80-year-old Parton died Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer, and her social media accounts had said she wanted a small service limited to immediate family.
Lainey described Parton as a loving, hands-on mentor who sang with her on the 2024 “Smoky Mountain DNA” album, supported her decision to attend beauty school and helped pay for it.
Parton, an 11-time Grammy winner, drew widespread tributes from fans, Hollywood and the music industry, reflecting a legacy that stretched beyond country music into philanthropy and business.

Sources

NBC News2h ago

Dolly Parton Dies at 80; Niece Lainey Parton Shares Instagram Tribute After Private Funeral

The Sunday Guardian5h ago

Dolly Parton Laid To Rest As Niece Lainey Mae Shares Emotional 'Granny' Tribute: 'She Believed In Me'

Yahoo! Voices11h ago

Dolly Parton's Niece Shares an Emotional Tribute to the Star After Her Burial: “Really Hard”

8 Sources

With her private funeral concluded, how will Tennessee officially immortalize Dolly Parton's monumental legacy and philanthropic empire?

Which specific songs did Dolly Parton secretly choose to be played at her private Nashville funeral before her passing?

Why did a global icon like Dolly Parton choose absolute privacy for her final farewell instead of a massive public memorial?

Dolly Parton’s Passing: Family, Fans, and the Future of Her 318 Million-Book Imagination Library

Overview

Dolly Parton passed away at age 80 in Nashville after a private battle with cancer, with her nephew Bryan Seaver announcing her death as she had requested. Honoring her wishes, the family held a small, private funeral, and her niece Lainey Mae Parton's heartfelt tribute sparked a wave of online interest. The world responded with public memorials, pink-lit landmarks, and a sold-out Grand Ole Opry concert, while leaders ordered flags at half-staff. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for support for Dolly’s Imagination Library, leading to a global surge in registrations and donations, ensuring her legacy of literacy and kindness continues.

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