Inside Dolly Parton’s unbelievable act toward her young niece before death

Kathleen O'BoyleMon, August 31, 2026 at 5:51 PM UTC

0

Dolly Parton's niece, Lainey Parton, shared a tribute to her aunt -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited

Dolly Parton’s niece Lainey Parton has revealed that the country music icon financially supported her through school and helped her get her career started, sharing a deeply personal tribute following her aunt’s funeral.

Lainey opened up about the support she received from Dolly in an emotional Instagram post shared Saturday, just one day after the singer was laid to rest. In the tribute, Lainey explained that her aunt helped make her dreams come to fruition with ongoing financial support.

“My Aunt Dolly financially supported me through school and helped me get my career started. She didn’t just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there,” Lainey wrote.

• Dolly Parton's rules for 'open' marriage with husband Carl Dean revealed

• Doctor shares three symptoms following Dolly Parton's death at 80 after 'brief' battle with cancer

Lainey said she waited until after Dolly's private funeral to share her thoughts, explaining that she was struggling to find the right words to describe her loss. “This is a really hard post for me to make. I wanted to wait until after my granny was laid to rest yesterday before I tried to put any of this into words,” she wrote.

Dolly died Tuesday at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Her social media pages previously announced that, at her request, a small private service would be held for immediate family.

Lainey shared old photos with Dolly from before her passing -Credit:Instagram

The loss was particularly personal for Lainey. She remembered Dolly not only as one of the biggest stars in country music, but as an aunt who consistently encouraged and supported her. “She believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself,” Lainey wrote.

Advertisement

She also explained that Dolly's role in her life went beyond that of a traditional aunt. Because Dolly did not have children of her own, Lainey said her nieces and nephews were made to feel like they were her own children or grandchildren. “Because she couldn’t have kids of her own, she always made us feel like we were hers. She loved us that way, and I’ll forever be grateful for that,” she wrote.

Lainey shared a collection of photos documenting her relationship with Dolly over the years, including childhood memories and moments they spent together onstage.

One of those memories came from Dolly 2024 album Smoky Mountain DNA, which brought together several members of the Dolly family. Lainey recalled being a freshman in high school when she first sang with her famous aunt and admitted that she was extremely nervous.

“I was a freshman in high school and SO nervous. But she had a way of making me feel like nothing bad could happen. She made me feel safe, confident, and like I belonged right there beside her,” Lainey recalled.

Lainey Parton recalled singing with her Aunt Dolly -Credit:Instagram

Dolly also supported Lainey when she decided to attend beauty school, helping her financially pursue the career she wanted. “She didn’t just tell me to chase my dreams, she helped me get there,” Lainey said.

Lainey also looked back on the other opportunities Dolly helped make possible, including appearing alongside her in a movie. “I’m so thankful I said yes to the opportunities and memories I got to share with her as my Aunt Dolly, including being in a movie with her. I’m so glad I have those moments to look back on now. I have things I can watch, hear, and hold onto when I miss her,” she continued.

As her family continues to mourn, Lainey said it was the smaller, everyday memories she expected to miss the most. "It still doesn’t feel real that she’s gone. I’m going to miss her voice, her laugh, her hugs, and just knowing she was there. I’m even going to miss those 4 AM calls, and I’d give anything to see her name pop up on my phone again,” she said.

She ended the tribute by thanking Dolly for the impact she had on her life. “I feel incredibly lucky that I got to call her my granny. Thank you for always believing in me, loving me, and making me feel like I could do anything. I love you, Granny. Always,” she said.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”