Dolly Parton’s sister Stella is giving us a rare look at Dolly’s final days. During a September 10 appearance on CBS Mornings, Stella shared that her sister was at peace and“definitely prepared”before she passed away on August 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with an undisclosed cancer. Those two words, prepared and peaceful, say so much about the woman we all grew up loving.
Stella also revealed that Dolly intentionally kept her illness private, not out of secrecy, but to protect the people she loved. She didn’t want her fans or her many relatives to spend their days worrying about her. Only the closest family members were told. According to Stella, Dolly would have been delighted by the worldwide outpouring of love and tributes since her passing.
Dolly gave us decades of music, charity, laughter, and heart. In her final chapter, she gave us one more lesson in grace: how to protect the people you love even when you’re the one hurting. What’s your favorite Dolly Parton memory or song? Share it with us in the comments below, we’d love to celebrate her with you.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
