Dolly Parton left a legacy that goes far beyond her chart-topping hits. Before her death on Tuesday at age 80, she made some incredibly personal decisions about her farewell. In a 2014 interview, she revealed that her funeral song would be“If We Never Meet Again,”a gospel hymn that held deep meaning because it was her father’s favorite. She even had it performed at his funeral, making the choice a tribute to her family roots.
But Dolly wasn’t done planning for the future. She sealed an unreleased song called“My Place in History”in a chestnut box at Dollywood, with instructions for it to be unveiled on her 100th birthday in 2046. That’s 20 years from now. She also requested a small, private service for immediate family only, and wanted to be laid to rest in a“beautiful bed of plush cotton.”Every detail was intentional, warm, and uniquely Dolly.
Her words from that 2014 interview still echo today:“I’m sure they’ll be playing‘I Will Always Love You’when I die, just like they did with Whitney Houston.”But she had other plans. It’s a reminder that the songs we leave behind aren’t always the biggest ones. Sometimes they’re the ones that mean the most to us. What song would you choose for your own farewell? Let us know in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.