Dolly Parton kept her cancer diagnosis a closely guarded secret before her death at age 80, her niece has confirmed publicly for the first time.
Jada Star, 47, told Extra that the family made a deliberate decision to shield the beloved country icon’s health struggles from the public eye.
“You know, we kind of kept all that stuff real private,” Star said. “She never wanted to worry anybody.”
Parton’s publicist confirmed after her passing that the singer had faced a “brief battle with cancer” before dying at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.
The specific type of cancer Parton had has not been disclosed, and her representatives did not reveal her diagnosis publicly before her death on August 25.
Parton had been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues in the period leading up to her hospitalization and was admitted to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center on August 21.
Just four days after her admission, the “Jolene” singer passed away surrounded by loved ones at the Nashville medical center.
In what would become her final interview, published by People magazine on August 21, Parton acknowledged that she had faced serious health challenges following the death of her husband Carl Dean.
“I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” Parton told People, offering a rare and candid glimpse into her private struggles.
Star, herself a singer-songwriter, reflected on the lasting guidance Parton offered throughout her life, including a piece of advice that has stayed with her: “Why are you worried about what other people think?”
Star also shared that Parton’s spirit remained characteristically forward-looking, saying the singer “would also tell us to start drying it up and start trying to get back to work and love each other real hard.”
The revelation underscores how deeply Parton prioritized her fans and the broader public over her own circumstances, consistent with the selfless image she cultivated across a decades-long career.
Friends, fans, and fellow artists have mourned the loss of one of American music’s most enduring and beloved figures since her passing was announced.
