Dolly Parton buried after death; niece shares tribute on Instagram

Dolly Parton was laid to rest in Nashville, Tennessee, after dying peacefully at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center following a brief battle with cancer. The burial took place on Saturday, a day after her family held a private service.

Lainey Mae Parton, the singer’s niece, posted a tribute on Instagram describing the close bond she shared with her "Granny." She said Parton had always made her feel "enough" and supported her dreams, recalling moments such as singing together on the "Smoky Mountain DNA" album when Lainey Mae was a high-school freshman and receiving financial help to attend beauty school.

"She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself," Lainey Mae wrote.

The family’s statement praised Parton’s lifelong generosity, noting her Imagination Library program that has distributed millions of free books and her contributions to medical research that aided vaccine development. The release highlighted her impact on music, film and business, including hits like "Jolene" and "9 to 5" and the Dollywood theme park.

Parton’s nephew also shared that she wished to be buried in a "bed of soft cotton" after a career marked by elaborate stage costumes.