Dolly Parton was laid to rest beside husband Carl Dean last week, while the world continues to mourn the loss of the beloved star at age 80.
Details have emerged about her her funeral, which was rumored to be an “intimate” ceremony for close friends and family.
Those reports have been confirmed by Parton’s first cousin, Richie Owens, who shared details during an appearance on NBC’s “Today” on Thursday, September 3.
Dolly Parton Wanted Her Burial Small and ‘Very Private’
According to Owens — who had been one of Parton’s musical collaborators and also serves as the family historian — confirmed that she was laid to rest with little fanfare, per her request.
“She wanted to keep it very quiet,” Owens said.
“The word keeps getting brought up, ‘funeral,’ and I don’t believe that was really the case in this situation,” he continued. “It was a burial, to be buried beside her husband.”
Despite her status as a music icon, Parton’s innate humility was evident in how she chose to be laid to rest.
“And she wanted it very small, and a few family members were there,” Owens shared.
“Other people that I’m sure would’ve liked to have been there were either out doing other things and stuff. It was very quiet, very quickly done, and not for any bad reasons whatsoever, it’s just that’s what she wanted,” he added. “She wanted to keep it very, very private.”
Tributes Through Philanthropy
Another of Parton’s final wishes was her insistence that fans honor her memory in a way that helps others by continuing her lifetime of philanthropy.
“That’s exactly what she said … when that happens to her, when she passes, she would much rather see people take that $50 you should spend on flowers and give it to her Imagination Library,” Owens told “Today.”
“She’s said that many, many times, he added. “She really cared about her charities.”
Why She Kept Her Illness a Secret
During her final months, Parton told fans she’d been experiencing health issues, but never revealed she was battling cancer.
As Owens explained, that secrecy even extended to members of her family.
“She of course posted herself that she had been going through health problems, but no one really knew what a lot of that was, including myself,” Owens said.
“She always kept things private because she always wanted to keep everybody being positive around her and put that out there in the world,” he explained. “Just, ‘Don’t worry about me, I’m going to be fine.’ Just show the love.”
An Honor Mixed with Sadness
News of Parton’s passing was announced in a video from her nephew, Bryan Seaver, which was posted on her Instagram account.
In that message, Seaver revealed that the video was something Parton had planned long in advance for when the time came.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” Seaver said.
Fulfilling her request, he added, was “an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”
