Stella Parton, sister of deceased country legend Dolly Parton, has opened up about a shocking truth about her family.
She said that Dolly kept her cancer diagnosis a secret from the extended family.
Stella Parton says only some of Dolly Parton’s closest relatives knew about the country icon’s cancer battle before her death at
Dolly’s sister appeared on CBS Mornings and revealed that she didn’t want everyone worried about her health. Their extended family did not know about her cancer diagnosis until after her death in Nashville at 80.
She did not want people sad,” Stella Parton told co-host Gayle King in an exclusive interview. “She’d be really happy and delighted that people have shown her so much love.”
Dolly, who passed away on Aug. 25, only made the diagnosis known to “the ones of us that were closer.” CBS News reports that Dolly did not want to spread negativity about her condition. “Dolly could not bear negative things,” Stella Parton told King in the interview in Nashville. “And she would not have wanted her fans worried about it.”
On her death, Dolly’s team disclosed that she died at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.” Details about her death, including the type of cancer and its duration, have not been made public.
Dolly’s death came as a shock to her fans and followers, leading to countless tributes to her. Dollywood, a Dolly Parton-themed amusement park, has planned to honor the beloved country star’s legacy with two major changes at their premises. These include a new reflective waterfall and stained-glass tribute at the Robert F. Thomas Chapel and a new character called “Dream Maker”.
The singer-songwriter’s sterling career spanned over six decades. She was best known for her hits “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You”. A popular name as a philanthropist, Dolly also founded the Imagination Library, an initiative to connect children with books. Her endeavours have attracted donations from celebrities like Taylor Swift.
