Dolly Parton’s younger sister Stella shares how the singer continued her quest to help the world – even in her dying days.
Dolly died on Tuesday at the age of 80 after a secret battle against an unknown form of cancer.
Stella, one of the country icon’s 11 siblings, took to Facebook on Thursday to pay tribute to her sister, saying she was willing to use her own health issues to bring about positive change for others.
“My sister was one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people I have ever known,” says Stella, 77. “What the world saw is exactly who she was, so much so that she recently told me that if there was no hope for her, she would still allow her medical team to try experimental drugs in the hopes of helping others in the future.”
She added, “If anyone goes to heaven, I’m sure she made it right on time. I know she shows herself enormously, in all her glitter and shine. That was my sister’s way.”
Stella, who is also a singer-songwriter, also gave fans a glimpse into her weekly routine with Dolly.
Dolly Parton’s younger sister Stella shares how the singer continued her quest to help the world even though there was no hope for her amid her health struggles
Stella, 77, who is also a singer-songwriter, gave fans a glimpse into her weekly routine with Dolly. Stella is seen on the left with Dolly (right) and another of their sisters, Freida (center)
Stella (center) is seen with Dolly and Frieda in a photo from 1981
“Every Tuesday around this time, before the sun came up and the world was still asleep, she and I would have coffee together over the phone for years,” Stella continued. ‘As little farm girls, we have always been early risers. As she liked to say; “shoot Tedda, we get more work done before the sun comes up than most people do all day!”
“We chatted, as sisters do, drank coffee and made plans, as has always been our custom.”
As Stella pointed out, Dolly is remembered for her generosity, especially in her efforts to promote children’s literacy.
The star was instrumental in donating hundreds of millions of books to children through her Imagination Library.
Dolly also donated $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in April 2020, which funded research that helped create a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Stella urged fans to honor Parton’s legacy by showing “more kindness,” lifting others up and giving “more time and resources, as she continued to do until the end.”
After thanking followers for the outpouring of love and respect, she concluded by saying how the legend had influenced her forever and asked everyone to follow her sister’s example.
Stella wrote: ‘Dolly loved the world and everyone in it. I criticized and complained about it and she laughed and said; “shoot Tedda, we have more important things to do than worry about their crazy asses.”
“She was right and she proved it every day.”
“We caught up on gossip, as sisters do, had coffee and made plans as has always been our way,” Stella (second from right) said of her sibling (pictured at the premiere of Coat of Many Colors Hollwood)
The fourth of twelve children, Dolly was born on January 19, 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee.
She and her siblings, Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Bobby Lee, Stella Mae, Cassie Nan, Randle Huston “Randy,” Larry Gerald, twins Floyd and Freida Estelle and Rachel Ann, grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains, sleeping on straw beds and living without running water, gas or electricity.
After developing a love for music at a young age, Dolly sang regularly on local radio and made television appearances as a child in East Tennessee before releasing her first single, Puppy Love, at age 13.
She went on to enjoy an illustrious music career that spanned six decades and was perhaps best known for her hits Jolene and 9 to 5.
Parton was one of twelve siblings, including Willadeene, David Wilburn, Coy Denver, Bobby Lee, Stella Mae (left), Cassie Nan, Randle Huston “Randy,” Larry Gerald, twins Floyd (right) and Freida Estelle (second from left), and Rachel Ann, who grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains, where they slept on straw beds and lived without running water, gas, or electricity.
Parton enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned six decades and was perhaps best known for her hits Jolene and 9 to 5.
Stella’s statement comes after Dolly’s niece Rebecca Seaver paid tribute to the country star on Wednesday.
Rebecca, whose mother is Dolly’s 75-year-old sister Cassie, revealed the family’s pain at her aunt’s death.
“Today, the sadness we feel is insurmountable because of the outpouring of love we all have for Dolly Rebecca Parton,” she said.
