Dolly Parton’s niece, Jada Star, is shedding some light on the Queen of Country’s final days before her death at age 80. A week after Parton died following her battle with cancer, 47-year-old Star told Extra that the singer’s family had kept her diagnosis hidden from the public out of care for her fans. After Parton’s death was announced by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, her publicist confirmed in a statement that she had a “brief battle with cancer,” although further details about her illness were not disclosed.
Parton had shared a rare update on her health in her final interview before her death. In the story published August 21, she told People magazine that she had faced “hard times with my health” following the death of her husband Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 aged 82. But I think because we live in a 24/7 world with social media, everything gets magnified in ways it wasn’t years ago.” The global icon died four days after the article was published.
In a tribute to her older sister after her death, Stella Parton revealed that in her Dolly had offered to help test experimental drugs in her final days to help others with cancer. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
A singer-songwriter herself, Star paid tribute to her aunt at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville after her death by performing “The Orchard,” which is a duet she originally recorded with the late country music legend. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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