Why Dolly Parton's Funeral Was 'Very Quiet' 'Very Private'

Dolly Parton "wanted to keep (her funeral) very quiet," according to one of her relatives and longtime collaborator.

Richie Owens appeared on TODAY on Thursday morning (September 3), and spoke about his late aunt. Parton died on August 25 after a battle with cancer. She was 80. Owens, 65, said of the beloved country legend, "what you saw from Dolly is how she was in real life, at home, personable, magical just very giving. You got the same thing. She didn't turn it on and off. Dolly was always Dolly. She had the greatest sense of humor.

"She wanted to keep it very quiet," he said of funeral. "The word keeps getting brought up, a funeral, and I don't think that was really the case in this situation; it was more a burial to be buried beside her husband. And she wanted it real small and a few family members were there. …It was very quiet and 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. …She's always kept things private because she wanted to keep everybody being positive around her. And just put that out there in the world, 'Don't worry about me, I'm gonna be fine.'"

Parton was laid to rest over the weekend behind husband Carl Dean. She died o August 25 in Nashville, Tennessee, following battle with cancer. She was 80. Since her passing, the country music community and many others mourned her loss in heartfelt tributes. Owens told TODAY that Parton would have wanted others to donate to her Imagination Library in her honor. "She said that many, many times. She really cared about her charities," he said.

An official announcement issued on August 25 stated that "Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 - 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 - 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 - 2000). …At Dolly's request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly's fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library."