Dolly Parton's niece has shared an emotional tribute to the country music icon after she was laid to rest alongisde her husband, describing the singer as somebody who "believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself".
The American country music legend passed away last week after a "brief battle with cancer". She was 80 years old.
Parton was buried alongside her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.
The bronze crypt plate mounted at the mausoleum had the star’s name engraved on it before she died, alongside her husband’s name and a depiction of her Tennessee home.
In a post shared to social media, Lainey Parton reflected on the close relationship she shared with her "Aunt Dolly".
"I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words," she wrote.
"From the time I was little, my granny always had a way of making me feel like I was enough. She never made my dreams feel too big or made me feel like I couldn’t do something.
"She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself."
She said because Parton was unable to have children of her own, she treated her nieces and nephews — and their children — as though they were hers.
"She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that."
Among the memories she shared was being asked to sing on Parton's 2024 Smoky Mountain DNA album while she was in high school.
Despite being "so nervous", she said Parton made her feel "safe, confident, and like I belonged right there beside her".
'It still doesn’t feel real that she’s gone. I’m going to miss her voice, her laugh, her hugs, and just knowing she was there.
Her nephew announces to the world that the beloved country star passed after a brief battle with cancer. (Source: 1News)
"I’m even going to miss those 4 AM calls, and I’d give anything to see her name pop up on my phone again."
She ended the tribute by thanking those who had sent messages and flowers following the singer's death, before writing one final message.
"I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny. Thank you for always believing in me, loving me, and making me feel like I could do anything.
"I love you, Granny. Always."
Parton was a beloved country music icon who left an indelible mark on pop culture through her distinctive voice and larger-than-life personality.
Her sprawling discography included hits such as Jolene, 9 to 5, I Will Always Love You, and Islands in the Stream with Kenny Rogers.
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