Dolly Parton's sister, Stella Parton, shares why the country music star kept her cancer battle private

September 9, 2026 / 8:31 AM EDT / CBS News

Dolly Parton's sister, Stella Parton, shares why the country music star kept her cancer battle private

TL;DR

  • Dolly Parton's sister, Stella Parton, explained that Dolly kept her cancer battle private.
  • The reason for privacy was to avoid making people sad or worried.
  • Only a few close family members knew about Dolly's cancer.
  • Dolly Parton died on August 25th at the age of 80 in Nashville.
  • Her team announced she died after a brief battle with cancer at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
  • The specific type or duration of her illness has not been disclosed.