Dolly Parton’s Sister Revealed Why She Kept Her Cancer Battle a Secret From Fans
In August, Dolly Parton died after a brief battle with cancer. Parton stepped out of the public eye in the period before her death, telling fans that she was dealing with some health issues. Still, she consistently reassured people that she was looking forward to the future, even in the days before her death. She said she was dealing with kidney stones, but did not reveal her cancer diagnosis. Her sister, Stella Parton, revealed why she didn’t disclose this to fans and some family members.
Dolly Parton died after a brief battle with cancer
Days before her death, Parton shared a message with fans. She’d pulled out of several public appearances, but consistently shared video messages.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” she told People. “You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health.”
She said that she looked forward to upcoming projects, including a hotel and museum in Nashville. Shortly after this, though, her nephew shared a message revealing that she died. Parton had cancer.
Stella Parton shared why Dolly Parton didn’t disclose her cancer diagnosis
Parton’s cancer diagnosis came as a surprise to fans, as she consistently reassured people about her well-being. Her sister, Stella Parton, said that she did not want people to mourn her in advance.
“She did not want people sad,” she told CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King. “She’d be really happy and delighted that people have shown her so much love.”
She admitted that even the extended Parton family did not know. Stella said, “some of us knew, the ones of us that were closer.” Parton lived her life with a bulletproof sense of optimism, and she didn’t want to worry people about her health.
“Dolly could not bear negative things,” she said. “And she would not have wanted her fans worried about it.”
She said her sister was at peace
Stella said that Parton was at peace before her death.
“I know she was at peace,” she said. “I could always tell by looking at her face, even if I hadn’t seen her in months. On camera, I could tell if she was hurt, angry, happy or sad, or felt bad. I could see it on her.”
Parton was very spiritual, and Stella said she was confident she was going to heaven.
“She knew where she was goin’,” she said. “She wasn’t goin’ anywhere bad. She was going to be with Mama and Daddy.”
