Dolly Parton’s sister Freida has paid a heartbreaking tribute to the singer, who died last week following a brief battle with cancer
Dolly Parton in the studio with sister Freida in 1981 (Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Dolly Parton’s sister Freida has spoken out following her sister’s funeral.
Freida paid a sad tribute to her ‘Dolly Momma’, who died last week following a brief battle with cancer. Dolly’s family confirmed yesterday that she had been “laid to rest” next to her husband Carl Dean following a private funeral service.
The service took place in Nashville on Friday afternoon, with Dolly laid to rest in a simple cotton dress and a pair of her beloved high heel shoes. The country legend’s niece Lainey Mae Parton shared the news in an emotional post on Instagram alongside photos with the legendary singer.
Now, Freida – one of Dolly’s 11 siblings – has paid tribute to the singer, who is most famous for her hits including Jolene and 9 to 5.
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Dolly Parton and husband Carl Dean(Image: Getty)
In a lengthy tribute on Facebook, she wrote: “Thank you all for bearing with me as I mourn the death of my big sister. I know to the entire world, she was a superstar, but to me, she was my Dolly Momma.
“She was the sister who would climb into bed with me when I was little because we were both afraid of the dark. She was the woman who stepped up and became my Momma, raising me from ages 13 to 18. She was the one who tried to convince me to wear her wigs at my shows in Dollywood (sorry, sister, but I definitely didn’t listen to you on that one).”
She added: “Like all sisters, we definitely had our share of arguments and disagreements throughout the years, but even through all the highs and lows, and all the laughter and tears, I never stopped loving her. I asked you all months ago to pray for Dolly, but now I’m going to ask you to please pray for me and my entire family as we navigate this insurmountable loss.”
In her tribute, Freida said she was “working on something very special” to honour her late sister.
Dolly Parton’s burial site at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Woodlawn Memorial Park
“There will never be anyone who can replace her in our hearts, and I know she holds a special place in many of yours as well. I know she would want me to keep going, keep smiling, and keep sharing the love she gave so freely with others. That is what I’m going to try to do, even on the days when it feels impossible,” she shared.
“I’m working on something very special for all of you in her honour. It’s my way of keeping a little piece of my Dolly Momma with me, while sharing her with all of you who loved her, too. Thank you for loving her, for praying for her, and now, for loving and praying for all of us. All My Love, Freida.”
Dolly’s funeral, which took place at the weekend, is said to have been in keeping with her wishes – with the singer planning the details before she died.
In 2014, Parton told Entertainment Weekly she wanted the song If We Never Meet Again (This Side Of Heaven), written by Albert E Brumley in 1945 and later sung by Johnny Cash, to be sung at the service.
She told the US outlet: “I’m sure they’ll be playing I Will Always Love You when I die, just like they did with Whitney Houston. 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, 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, where the charming roses bloom forever and where separations come no more’.
“That was my daddy’s favourite. We did sing it at his funeral, and I would like it to be sung at mine.”
