Dolly Parton's sister, Stella Parton, shared in a recent interview that the late singer concealed her cancer diagnosis from a significant portion of their family.
"She didn’t want a lot of the family worried about it," Stella Parton told Gayle King of “CBS Mornings” on Thursday. She added that while some close relatives were aware, "not every relative" knew about the illness.
Stella Parton indicated that her sister's desire to avoid causing worry and sadness was the primary reason for keeping the diagnosis private. "Dolly could not bear negative things, and she would not have wanted her fans worried about it," Stella Parton said. "She did not want people sad."
Stella Parton declined to specify the exact type of cancer her sister had, stating that it was not her place to share that information out of respect for Dolly Parton's wishes.
When asked what she missed most about her sister, Stella Parton cited her "optimism," describing her as "the most optimistic person I ever knew." She also noted that she did not miss seeing her sister "struggling in pain." Stella Parton believes her sister died "at peace" and was prepared for what was to come.
Dolly Parton's representatives confirmed her death last month after a "brief battle with cancer."