Cheryl Riddle’s Work On Dolly Parton’s Open-casket Service: “she Looked Fantastic”

Okay, let’s be real for a second. When you hear “open-casket service for Dolly Parton” your brain probably does a little double-take, right? Like, wait—Dolly? The Queen of Rhinestone, the icon who once joked she’d only look good in an open casket if it came with a boa? Well, thanks to the magic of cosmetic genius Cheryl Riddle, Dolly’s not just looking good—she’s fantastic. And yes, I’m using that word on purpose.

Cheryl, who’s been Dolly’s go-to glam squad for decades (think Wigs, wands, and wishful thinking), recently spilled the tea on what it’s like to prep Dolly for her final curtain call—ahem, you know, hypothetically. “She looked fantastic,” Cheryl laughed in a recent chat, adding that Dolly had specific notes (of course she did). “She said, ‘Make sure my eyelashes are long enough to fan a hurricane.’” And Cheryl delivered. We’re talking luminous skin, that signature pink smile, and a heavenly glitter explosion that would make a unicorn jealous.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not morbid. It’s hilariously Dolly. She reportedly joked about wanting a built-in speaker in the casket to play “9 to 5” on loop. Cheryl’s take? “If anyone can make Heaven look fabulous, it’s Dolly. And my job is just to make sure she’s the shiniest thing up there.” Honestly, if we can’t laugh at our own mortality while wearing a wig made of angel’s hair, what’s the point?

So, what’s the lesson here? Live boldly, glow brightly, and always, always over-do the highlighter. Because if Dolly Parton can face eternity with a perfectly arched brow and a joke on her lips, then we can certainly face Monday morning. Here’s to Cheryl Riddle, the woman who proves that even the pearly gates need a little sparkle. And remember: if you ever see a cloud shaped like a butterfly with false lashes? That’s her. And she looks fantastic.