Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 4
Dolly Parton Buried at 80 Beside Husband in Private Ceremony After Cancer Battle
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 4

Dolly Parton Buried at 80 Beside Husband in Private Ceremony After Cancer Battle

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 4

Summary

  • Parton was laid to rest in a small private burial beside her husband, Carl Dean Thomas, after dying on Aug. 25 at age 80 following a brief cancer battle.
  • Richie Owens, her cousin, said the service was kept "very quiet" and attended by only a few family members because Parton wanted it handled quickly and privately.
  • Owens said even some relatives did not know the extent of her illness, reflecting Parton's habit of keeping health struggles private and urging loved ones to stay positive.
  • Her death prompted broad tributes from fans and the entertainment industry, while Owens said Parton had long asked mourners to give $50 meant for flowers to her Imagination Library or other charities.

Insights

Dolly Parton kept her final battle a secret, but what happens to her massive philanthropic empire now that she is gone?
Fans can visit her mausoleum, but will the fiercely private icon eventually receive the massive public tribute she actively avoided?