Dolly Parton’s sister has remembered the country music legend as a generous and caring woman who remained focused on other people even during her final battle with cancer.
Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, according to her family.
In a statement following her death, her younger sister Stella Parton, 77, said Dolly’s public image reflected the person she knew privately.
“What the world saw is exactly who she was,” Stella said, describing her sister as one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people she had known.
Stella said Dolly had continued to think about helping others even as her own health declined. She recalled that her sister had told her she would allow her medical team to try experimental drugs if there was no hope for her, in the hope that the treatment could benefit others in the future.
For Stella, however, Dolly’s legacy was about more than her music or fame.
She urged people who want to honor her sister to show greater kindness, lift others up and follow the example she set throughout her life.
The sisters remained close despite Dolly’s worldwide fame. Stella recalled their regular Tuesday morning phone calls, when they would drink coffee together, exchange family gossip and make plans.
The tradition reflected the rural upbringing they shared in Tennessee, where they grew up as two of 12 children.
Stella remembered how they remained early risers and quoted one of Dolly’s favorite sayings about getting more work done before sunrise than most people managed during an entire day.
Those ordinary moments between the sisters became particularly meaningful as Dolly’s health deteriorated.
“My Tuesday morning coffee time will never be the same,” Stella wrote, while saying her sister’s “love, respect and goodness” would remain.
Dolly Parton’s death was announced Tuesday in an Instagram video by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security.
Seaver described the announcement as one filled with pride and sadness. He said the sadness belonged to those left behind, while Dolly had lived her life in the light.
Born into poverty in rural Tennessee, Parton became one of the most influential figures in country music and built a career that extended well beyond the genre.
Her best-known songs include “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” which became a worldwide hit and was later famously recorded by Whitney Houston.
Parton’s career also made her a major cultural figure, while her charitable work and support for education and literacy became important parts of her public legacy.
Her death came about a year after that of her husband, Carl Dean, who died at 82.
Stella said the loss would change the rhythm of her own life, particularly those Tuesday mornings shared between the sisters.
But she said Dolly’s example should continue through the people who knew her and the millions who admired her.
“Dolly loved the world and everyone in it,” Stella wrote. “She left the world a better place by being in it, so let’s follow her example.”
