Dolly Parton was laid to rest just a few days after she passed away on August 25, with only a few close family members in attendance. While Parton’s celebrity status brought in tributes all over the world, her cousin, Richie Owens, says she wanted a small, intimate burial.

“She wanted to keep it very quiet. The word keeps getting brought up, ‘funeral,’ and I don’t believe that was really the case in this situation. It was a burial, to be buried beside her husband,” Owens reveals on the Today Show, referring to Carl Dean, who passed away in 2025.

“And she wanted it very small, and a few family members were there,” he continues. “Other people that I’m sure would’ve liked to have been there were either out doing other things and stuff. It was very quiet, very quickly done, and not for any bad reasons whatsoever. It’s just that’s what she wanted. She wanted to keep it very, very private.”

In true Parton fashion, she also requested that money be given to her Imagination Library, instead of flowers or any other type of memorial.

“That’s exactly what she said … when that happens to her, when she passes, she would much rather see people take that $50 you should spend on flowers and give it to her Imagination Library,” Owens recalls. “She’s said that many, many times. She really cared about her charities.”

What Happened to Dolly Parton

The news of Parton’s passing shocked the entire world. Most people had no idea she was battling cancer, including those in her own family. Indeed, while Parton mentioned some health problems, citing those as her reason for canceling her Las Vegas residency, in her final weeks, the 80-year-old was still talking about plans for her future, such as the opening of her SongTeller Hotel and Life of Many Colors Museum.

“She, of course, posted herself that she had been going through health problems, but no one really knew what a lot of that was, including myself,” Owens admits. “She always kept things private because she always wanted to keep everybody being positive around her and put that out there in the world. Just, ‘Don’t worry about me, I’m going to be fine.’ Just show the love.”

Parton had other business ventures she was part of, like her own line of cosmetics, perfume, jewelry, and pet products, among others. She was also eager to see her long-awaited Broadway play about her life open in January.

“That lady was a workaholic. She was relentless,” Owens says.

Owens also confirms what most of the world already knew: that Parton was authentic, genuine, and exceedingly kind all the time, and not just when she was in the spotlight.

“What you saw from Dolly is how she was in real life, at home, personable, magical – just very giving,” he says. “You got the same thing. She didn’t turn it on and off. Dolly was always Dolly. She had the greatest sense of humor.”

Donations to the Imagination Library can be made here.

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