Stella Parton has spoken out about why she believes nobody in Nashville reached out to her following the death of her sister, country icon Dolly Parton, who died at age 80 after a private battle with cancer.
Why she believes nobody reached out
Speaking to Gayle King on CBS Mornings, Stella, 77, said she hadn't heard from a single person in Nashville, including entertainers she knows personally, since her sister's death. She said she believes the silence may be connected to her own public political activism, having been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, telling King: "I'm assuming it might be because of my political, you know, activism on social media. I don't know."
Dolly's own approach to politics
Stella confirmed that Dolly did hold her own political views privately, but declined to share what they were, saying simply: "I'm not telling!" She said her sister deliberately avoided discussing politics publicly to protect her broad fan base, describing Dolly as the smarter of the two in that regard, noting her own tendency to be openly vocal about her views by contrast, while calling Dolly "a good businesswoman" for staying private.
Dolly's philanthropic legacy
While avoiding overt political statements, Dolly channelled her influence into causes she cared about, most notably literacy through her Imagination Library, founded in 1995, which has since donated more than 300 million books to children from birth to age five. She also donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help fund Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic.
A rare personal detail
Stella also shared that it had been decades since she'd seen her sister without her signature makeup, revealing that Dolly would sleep in her makeup even during overnight visits once she'd become a public figure. Stella said Dolly had been well prepared for the end of her life following what she described as a brief battle with cancer.
Tribute from her representatives
Announcing her death, Dolly's representatives said: "Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand. Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly's unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones."
