Dolly Parton’s Unexpected Funeral Song Choice Will Surprise You!

When we think of Dolly Parton, we picture a legend—a country queen with an unforgettable voice, a heart full of love, and a presence as bright as rhinestones under stage lights. But even icons think about the inevitable, and Dolly’s choice of funeral song might just leave you in tears.

Rather than a classic love ballad or a chart-topping hit, Dolly wants the hymn “If We Never Meet Again” played at her funeral—a deeply personal choice tied to faith, family, and her roots.

In a 2014 interview, she revealed this heartfelt wish but admitted she’s not sure her family will honor it. “I’m sure they’ll be playing ‘I Will Always Love You’ when I die, just like they did with Whitney Houston,” she said. She recalled watching Houston’s funeral, hearing the song she wrote, and suddenly breaking down. “That’s when it hit me—she was really gone.”

But for Dolly, “If We Never Meet Again” holds a deeper meaning. It was her father’s favorite song and was played at his funeral in 2000. Long before that, she included its lyrics in her 1974 track Sacred Memories, a reflection of the faith that shaped her.

“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.”

This song isn’t just about saying goodbye—it’s about believing in a reunion beyond this life. For a woman whose music has always carried messages of hope, love, and faith, it’s the perfect farewell.

And when the time comes for Dolly to take her final bow, she hopes this song will be playing—her last goodbye, wrapped in the same faith and love that carried her through life. ❤️🎶