Stella Parton
ON THE RECORD · 35 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“Not after she got to be Dolly Parton. No. She would sleep in her makeup when she'd come spend the night with me,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella said family members rarely saw Dolly without her signature glamorous look after she became a star.
“She knew where she was going,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella said Dolly was at peace in her final moments.
“I'm pretty sure Dolly said, 'You're going to, you know, pipe it down,' because that was the first time people thought 'oh,'”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella recounted what Dolly likely said to Freida about revealing her health situation.
“she would never have offended anyone.”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella explained why Dolly never shared her opinions on politics or controversial topics.
“didn't tell us that we could say it,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella explained the family's decision not to disclose Dolly's cancer type.
“so hard for so long”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella discussed how Dolly's determination to keep working contributed to her passing.
“I think she worked too hard and didn't maybe take as good a care of herself as she should have. She at one point, she said, 'You know, I spent a lot of time caring for Carl that maybe I neglected myself.'”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella discussed what contributed to Dolly's passing and recalled Dolly's own words about neglecting herself while caring for Carl.
“I think Dolly got on to Freida about that.”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella discussed Dolly's reaction to Freida's public plea for prayers.
“didn't care about that at all,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella said Dean did not care about Dolly's fame.
“She wasn't going anywhere bad. She was going to be with mom and daddy. She was prepared. Yeah, she was definitely prepared.”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella said Dolly was prepared and at peace in her final moments.
“at the house with her hair up in a ponytail and barefooted cooking in the kitchen.”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella described how Dean would have preferred Dolly to live simply at home.
“I think she was very sad, but I don't think that's why she got sick,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella disagreed with speculation that Dolly died of a broken heart after her husband's death.
“could not bear negative things”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella explained why Dolly decided to keep her cancer diagnosis a secret.
“That’s the last thing Dolly asked me for, was prayer,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella shared the final request Dolly made before her death.
“Oh, I knew what she looked like. She looked like me without her makeup. So, I knew what she looked like without it.”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella described what Dolly looked like without her makeup.
“it's not my business to tell her business.”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella explained the family's decision not to disclose Dolly's cancer type.
“very unique and very deep and loyal,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella described Dolly's relationship with her husband Carl Dean.
“And she knew that Freida was just upset and hurt, but she thought, 'Don't be telling my situation, Freida. Don't be spilling my business.'”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella described Dolly's feelings about Freida sharing her health situation publicly.
“out of respect for her”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-10
Stella explained the family's decision not to disclose Dolly's cancer type.
“Sadly, because of the way our lives have been lived in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers,”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton addressed fake AI-generated images and videos of her late sister Dolly Parton in a statement shared to Instagram.
“As time passes, those who are in the business of exploiting the loss and tragedies of others on a daily basis will move on to the next stampede of endless misinformation,”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton added that those exploiting others' tragedies will eventually move on to new misinformation.
“It’s not about the most clever comments, fake AI garbage or snarky tweets.”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton wrote that what matters is not clever comments, fake AI garbage, or snarky tweets.
“Every human being experiences pain and loss in life and my family is no different.”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton wrote that her family experiences pain and loss like any other human beings.
“At the end of the day or the end of a life, how will you feel about yourself?”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton closed her Instagram statement with a rhetorical question about self-reflection at the end of life.
“That is the reason she chose not to express her opinions on a lot of things like politics, religion and individuals in the public eye.”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton explained that Dolly Parton chose not to express opinions on politics, religion, or public figures.
“We will be okay in time but each of us will grieve in our own personal way,”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton wrote about her family grieving Dolly Parton's death in their own personal ways.
“Use my sister’s life as an example for tolerance and respect toward others,”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton urged fans to use Dolly Parton's life as an example of tolerance and respect.
“There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted everyday and it’s been challenging to absorb and or ignore.”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton condemned AI-generated content flooding the internet after Dolly Parton's death.
“She loved her fans and the public in general,”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton wrote that Dolly Parton loved her fans and the general public.
“show more compassion and wisdom as we move forward in life.”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton asked fans to show more compassion and wisdom after Dolly Parton's death.
“big sister Dolly would be surprised and delighted by the love her family and she has been shown during this time.”
Stella Parton · said 2026-09-04 · reported 2026-09-05
Stella Parton said her big sister Dolly would be surprised and delighted by the love shown to her family.
“My sister was always thinking of others and if you want to honor her legacy, show more kindness, lift others up and give more of your time and resources as she continued to do to the very end.”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-28
Stella Parton encouraged people to honor her sister's legacy by showing kindness and giving back.
“She left the world a better place by being in it, so let’s follow her example. Love and respect to all of you,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-28
Stella Parton concluded her tribute by encouraging people to follow her sister's example.
“If anyone gets to heaven I’m sure she made it right on time. I know she’s showing out big time, in all her sparkles and shine. That was my sister’s way,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-28
Stella Parton shared a tribute to her late sister Dolly Parton following her death.
“What the world saw is exactly who she was, so much so, she told me recently that if there was no hope for her, she would still allow her medical team to try experimental drugs in the hope of helping others in the future,”
Stella Parton · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-28
Stella Parton recounted her sister's willingness to try experimental cancer treatments to help others.