Dolly Parton reportedly maintained control over her carefully cultivated public image until her final moments, allowing only one person to see her on her deathbed after asking that loved ones be spared the sight of her in a fragile state.

The country music icon, who died in August at 80, reportedly chose Cheryl Riddle, her longtime makeup and wig artist, as the sole visitor during her final hours. The decision reflected the extraordinary importance of appearance and presentation throughout Parton’s decades-long career.

According to The Independent, Parton also requested an open-casket funeral and wanted Riddle to prepare her appearance after her death, ensuring that the woman who had helped maintain her signature look for more than 40 years would be responsible for her final presentation.

Parton’s fascination with beauty began in childhood, when she improvised makeup from plants and household items. As her career grew, her distinctive wigs, makeup and flamboyant costumes became as recognisable as her music.

In her 2023 book, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, Parton revealed that she had slept in makeup since the 1980s so she would always be ready to leave home looking presentable in an emergency.

Her commitment to the image she created was reflected in the scale of her collection. At the time of her death, she reportedly owned more than 350 wigs, over 2,000 pairs of shoes and an extensive archive of sequined stage costumes.

Riddle, who worked with Parton for more than four decades, was also involved in several of the singer’s film projects and helped manage her extensive wig collection.

Parton was hospitalised at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville shortly before her death. Her death was later attributed to cancer following what was described as a brief battle with the disease.

She was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, beside her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.