Stella Parton Explains Dolly’s Private Cancer Battle

Dolly Parton’s sister Stella said the country music icon kept her cancer diagnosis private because she could not bear negative news and did not want fans or much of her family to worry or feel sad. Only some close relatives knew about her illness, and Stella said it was not the family’s place to disclose details Parton had kept private. Parton died at 80 on Aug. 25 after representatives described a brief battle with cancer, following months of health problems reportedly including dizziness, dehydration and other complications. Her final request to Stella was for prayers, and her funeral was a small, private service in Nashville beside her husband, Carl Dean. Stella said Parton would have been pleased by the widespread outpouring of love and tributes and reportedly would have accepted experimental treatments if they might help others.