Dolly Parton will be buried beside her beloved late husband, Carl Dean.
Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver told TMZ on Tuesday, August 25, that the country icon would be buried inside the mausoleum at the Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville. Dean, for his part, was laid to rest inside the same crypt upon his death in 2025. He was 82.
Parton died earlier on Tuesday at the age of 80.
“Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee,” the singer’s rep revealed in a press release shared with Us. “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth and kindness that made us all feel like family.”
The statement continued, “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.”
Per Parton’s rep, the “Jolene” singer requested “a small, private service” to be held for her immediate family while fans were encouraged to send contributions to Parton’s Imagination Library “in lieu of flowers.”
Parton’s spokesperson later revealed that she died after a brief battle with an undisclosed form of cancer.
Throughout her decades in the spotlight, Parton counted husband Dean as one of her biggest supporters. After meeting outside a laundromat in 1964, the pair said “I do” two years later.
“We’re the perfect partners. We both have a great sense of humor,” Parton exclusively told Us in 2022. “We’re able to solve any problem and any situation, making a joke about it and not letting it get too heavy, but we respect each other and we like each other. We lucked up, let’s put it that way.”
She added at the time, “You know, most people can keep a marriage [going strong] if you make a little effort. Some people just get slouching and lazy and about stuff that ain’t important, like leaving the toilet seat up. And if that’s the worst thing you’ve to worry about, you’re already in trouble.”
In the year after Dean’s death, Parton had been candid about grieving the death of her famously private spouse.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years,” she wrote in a March 2025 tribute shared via social media. “Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
