Dolly Parton chose to keep her fight against cancer a secret until her death, which occurred on August 25 at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. The singer, who passed away at the age of 80, faced what her representatives described as “a brief battle with cancer,” although they did not specify the type of illness.
Parton’s niece, singer Jada Star, explained the reasons behind this decision in an interview with Extra on September 1. “She never wanted to worry anyone. So I think it was just a shock,” Star commented about the reaction to her aunt’s passing, according to the information received. The artist, daughter of Freida, Parton’s younger sister, noted that the family chose to keep the medical process private. “We kept all of that quite private,” she added.
Before her passing, Parton was facing health issues that included renal and autoimmune complications, which led her to step back from public life for the past year. On August 21, she was admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville and died four days later, surrounded by her loved ones.
Following her death, Parton’s representatives issued a statement highlighting her commitment to bringing joy and hope. “Our beloved Dolly Parton dedicated her life and career to bringing joy, laughter, hope, and integrity to everything she touched,” they stated. “After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly left her earthly life,” the statement added.
Jada Star also addressed the grieving process, describing it as “really difficult” and “very surreal,” although she emphasized that the tributes have helped the family. “All these tributes have helped us a lot to get through this,” she said. The niece shared the advice that she believes Parton would give: “she would also tell us to start drying our tears and try to get back to work and love each other very much.”
The Grand Ole Opry, where Parton was inducted in 1969, honored the singer on August 29 with a full show commemorating her legacy. Jada Star headlined the musical performances with a rendition of “The Orchard,” a song from the family album Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables, released in 2024. Other artists such as Carly Pearce and Jelly Roll also participated in the tribute.
The artist was buried in a private ceremony at the Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville on August 28, attended only by close family. Parton was laid to rest alongside her husband, Carl Dean, with whom she was married for nearly 60 years before his passing in 2025.
Source: www.infobae.com
