Dolly Parton’s Estate Rejects a Traditional Memorial — Here’s What She Wanted Instead
Dolly Parton’s family already had a private funeral for her instead of a larger memorial. Fans looking to celebrate the life of the country star can do so at a festival in 2027. Parton’s manager revealed that she had no interest in a traditional memorial.
Dolly Parton’s estate is not having a traditional memorial for her
Before her death, Parton had plans to perform at DOLLYFEST in January 2026. Now, the festival will take place in Nashville and London across two consecutive weekends in 2027.
“What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life,” said Danny Nozell, the founder and CEO of CTK Enterprises, per her official website. “Many people behind the scenes know that DOLLYFEST is a dream of Dolly’s that was intended to take place on her 80th birthday in Nashville. We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go. And then, in August 2025, Dolly had to take a step back after her initial health challenges. A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, DOLLYFEST is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!).”
Nozell said that Parton didn’t want a traditional memorial. Because of this, she played a role in planning this celebration.
“We are not discouraging people from celebrating Dolly in the ways they choose,” Nozell said. “However, as far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. So, instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat, let all the tributes that immediately make sense occur naturally, and then, see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly. This is something that is authentic to her, something that feels right to me, and something that artists and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve, and giving everyone time to plan.”
Dolly Parton’s family had a small ceremony rather than a large memorial
Parton’s family had a small, private ceremony for her in the days after her death. She was interred at the Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville alongside her husband, Carl Dean. Her family members were reportedly the only guests in attendance.
People reported that a plaque at the mausoleum includes engravings of two houses. One of these is Parton’s childhood home in Sevier County, TN. It also includes an engraving of their wedding date and intertwining wedding bands.
She previously shared her hopes for her funeral
Parton put thought into her funeral years before her death. She said she anticipated that people would play “I Will Always Love You.“
“I’m sure they’ll be playing ‘I Will Always Love You’ when I die, just like they did with Whitney Houston,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “When they picked her coffin up and started in on that song, I started to cry, and I thought, ‘Oh my Lord.’ That’s when it hit me that she was really gone. But there’s a song called ‘If We Never Meet Again.'”
She said “If We Never Meet Again” was her father’s favorite song, and her family played it as his funeral.
“It’s an old country-gospel church song that talks about if we never meet again this side of heaven, I will meet you on that beautiful shore,” she said. “‘Where the charming roses bloom forever and where separations come no more.’ That was my daddy’s favorite. We did sing it at his funeral, and I would like it to be sung at mine.”
