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Dolly Parton’s sister Stella told “CBS Mornings” in a new interview that the country music icon hid her cancer battle not only from fans but also from “a lot of family” because she did not want her legacy tainted with
sadness. Parton died in Nashville on Aug. 25 at 80 years old. The singer’s representative later confirmed her death followed a “brief battle” with cancer. The news came as a shock to both Parton’s friends and family.
“Dolly did not want anybody to tell that because Dolly could not bear negative things,” Stella told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King. “She would not have wanted her fans worried about it… She didn’t want a lot of the family worried about it. Some of us knew, the ones that were closer, but not every relative.”
“She did not want people sad,” Sella continued. “She’d be really happy and delighted that people have shown her so much love because she knew that that would make us feel better as her family. Bottom line, end of the day, her family and Carl’s family and probably Judy’s family are the people that she would want to say, ‘See, everything I did, they cared. They really loved me.’”
Stella was referring to Dolly’s late husband, Carl Dean, and her longtime best friend, Judy Ogle.
While Parton had been public with her health issues over the last year, it had not been disclosed she was battling cancer until after her death. She appeared on video a week before to introduce the a new roller coaster at Dollywood theme park after canceling her in-person appearance due to dizziness and dehydration. Parton canceled a six-show residency in Las Vegas last year due to “health challenges,” then also canceled the rescheduled dates this May.
“My immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple, three years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding [and] strengthening those, and hopefully I’ll be up to snuff again soon,” Parton explained at the time.
Stella Parton’s full interview with “CBS Mornings” will air on Thursday, Sept. 10.
