Country music legend Dolly Parton passed away in Nashville on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Her representatives later confirmed she had died following a "brief battle" with cancer. Now, her sister Stella Parton has further revealed that Dolly not only kept her illness a secret from fans but also from "many family members" who were unaware of her cancer fight.
During an interview with "CBS Mornings," Stella stated, "Dolly didn't want anyone to talk about it because she couldn't handle the negativity. She wouldn't want fans to worry about her... and she didn't want too many family members to worry either. Some closer relatives knew, but not every family member was aware."
The "Carl" Stella referred to is Dolly's late husband, Carl Dean, and "Judy" is her long-time close friend, Judy Ogle.
While Dolly had publicly addressed health issues over the past year, even canceling public appearances and Las Vegas shows due to dizziness, dehydration, and other "health challenges," the public only learned of her cancer diagnosis after her passing.