Dolly Parton’s family has confirmed that her funeral will be a small, private gathering reserved for her immediate family.
But there’s one deeply personal detail we already know — the song that will be played at her funeral.
The country legend revealed her choice more than a decade ago.
The world was shaken Tuesday by news that Dolly Parton has died at 80. Now, President Donald Trump has ordered US flags to be lowered in honor of the iconic country music star.
The future country superstar said she “felt like a star” during those childhood performances.
“I was dreaming of being on Grand Ole Opry one day, or getting out to sing in front of people — and that little microphone just brought me all the way to the top of the world from the top of the Smoky Mountains.”
Dolly Parton would go on to conquer the world with her music, but her legacy extended far beyond her incredible career — much of her life was dedicated to helping others. In 1988, she established the Dollywood Foundation in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee, initially focusing on education and reducing high-school dropout rates. Her efforts included the Buddy Program, which rewarded students who stayed in school.
She later created the Imagination Library in 1995, inspired in part by her father Robert Lee, who had been unable to read. What began as a local program providing books to children eventually grew into a worldwide literacy initiative. By 2025, the program had distributed more than 304 million books.
Her generosity also reached wildlife conservation. Through Dollywood, she partnered with the American Eagle Foundation to create Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about bald eagles and other birds of prey.
When wildfires devastated parts of Tennessee in 2016, Parton launched the My People Fund, providing monthly financial assistance to families who had lost their homes. The effort ultimately distributed millions of dollars.
Her philanthropy also included major contributions to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She donated $1 million to its children’s hospital in honor of her niece, who had been treated for leukemia there, and later made another $1 million gift toward pediatric infectious disease research. Her earlier $1 million donation to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt also helped support work connected to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Parton continued helping communities affected by disasters, including raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Tennessee flood victims and contributing millions toward relief following Hurricane Helene. She also donated $1 million to the Salvation Army and supported countless other charitable causes over the years.
In many ways, her final choice of funeral song feels fitting. Parton spent decades singing about love, faith, family and hope — and when she imagined her own goodbye, she chose a song that had already carried her family through one of its most painful moments.
When wildfires devastated parts of Tennessee in 2016, Parton launched the My People Fund, providing monthly financial assistance to families who had lost their homes. The effort ultimately distributed millions of dollars.
Her philanthropy also included major contributions to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She donated $1 million to its children’s hospital in honor of her niece, who had been treated for leukemia there, and later made another $1 million gift toward pediatric infectious disease research. Her earlier $1 million donation to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt also helped support work connected to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Parton continued helping communities affected by disasters, including raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Tennessee flood victims and contributing millions toward relief following Hurricane Helene. She also donated $1 million to the Salvation Army and supported countless other charitable causes over the years.
In many ways, her final choice of funeral song feels fitting. Parton spent decades singing about love, faith, family and hope — and when she imagined her own goodbye, she chose a song that had already carried her family through one of its most painful moments.
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