Dolly Parton died August 25, 2026, at the age of 80, following what has been described as a “short battle with cancer.” Her passing prompted a worldwide wave of grief, with millions of fans mourning the country music icon from Tennessee.
As tributes continue to pour in, Dolly’s younger sister, Stella Parton, has also addressed the public – this time to speak out about misinformation that has allegedly begun circulating online following her sister’s death.
In a post on Instagram, Stella wrote: “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.
“There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted every day and it’s been challenging to absorb and ignore.
She continued: “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.
We will be okay in time but each of us will grieve in our own personal way.
“Every human being experiences pain and loss in life and my family is no different.”
Dolly Parton’s sister shared a statement
Stella went on to say: “Big sister Dolly would be surprised and delighted by the love her family and she has been shown during this time.
“She loved her fans and the public in general,” she wrote. “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 also asked fans to “show more compassion and wisdom as we move forward in life.
“Use my sister’s life as an example for tolerance and respect toward others,” she added. “It’s not about the most clever comments, fake AI garbage or snarky tweets.”
She concluded: “At the end of the day or the end of a life, how will you feel about yourself?”
