NewsNTech

Dolly Parton laid to rest at 80; niece Lainey Mae recalls the private moments behind a public legacy

8/30/2026

Dolly Parton was buried days after dying peacefully at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, following a brief battle with cancer.

Her niece, Lainey Mae Parton, waited until after the burial to post a tribute on Instagram, writing that she wanted to gather her thoughts before trying to put any of it into words.

The post offers the most personal account of what Parton's family experienced. Lainey Mae described a woman who never made her dreams feel too big, who believed in her before she knew how to believe in herself.

Because Parton had no children of her own, she loved her extended family as though they were hers.

Keep reading

Read the full story

Open on NewsNTech