Dolly Parton’s younger sister Stella Parton opened up about the final days of the legendary singer, who died on Aug. 25 at age 80. Stella shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, stating, ‘My big sister Dolly got her wings this past Tuesday. If anyone gets to heaven, I’m sure she made it right on time.’

Personal Moments and Rituals

Stella recalled a long-standing morning ritual with Dolly: every Tuesday before sunrise, the two would talk over coffee on the phone. ‘As she liked to say: shoot Tedda we get more work done before the sun comes up than most folks do all day long!’ Stella wrote, adding that the two would ‘catch up on gossip’ and ‘make plans.’

Interestingly, Dolly passed away on a Tuesday, the very day of their weekly ritual. Stella described her sister as ‘one of the most generous, thoughtful, and kind people,’ noting that Dolly’s kindness was consistent in both her personal and professional life. According to HOLA, Stella also shared that Dolly had been battling cancer, though this was not publicly known until after her death.

Funeral Wishes and Philanthropy

According to E! News, Dolly had made her funeral arrangements in advance. Her family announced that a small, private service would be held for immediate family only. The family also requested that fans honor her memory by sharing tributes on social media by tagging @DollyParton or visiting www.dollyparton.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked for donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a nonprofit she founded in 1995 that has given away more than 332 million books to children. Dolly once said in a 2020 documentary, ‘My dad couldn’t read or write and that was kind of crippling to him. That’s why my work as the book lady means more to me than my music.’

Behind the Legend

Stella also revealed a more personal side of Dolly, emphasizing that her sister was ‘generous, atenta y bondadosa’ — generous, attentive, and kind. Stella shared that Dolly had been open about her health struggles in recent months. Four days before her death, Dolly had told fans, ‘Ya me conocen, como he dicho muchas veces, me he obsesionado con mis sueños y aún tengo muchas cosas que quiero lograr, así que voy a seguir trabajando todo el tiempo que pueda para verlas hacerse realidad.’

Though her cancer diagnosis was not publicly disclosed, Dolly had canceled some professional commitments due to health concerns. Her family emphasized that she remained dedicated to her work until the end.

While the focus of this article is on Dolly Parton’s sister and the details of her final days, notably, family support and personal rituals played a key role in how she approached the end of her life. Stella’s tribute offers a glimpse into the private, heartfelt relationship between the two sisters, as well as Dolly’s enduring legacy in both music and philanthropy.