Dolly Parton’s sister Stella says ‘nobody’ from Nashville contacted her after singer’s death

Stella Parton speculated that her outspoken political activism on social media could be behind the silence
Days before Dolly Parton’s death, Stella had publicly criticized President Donald Trump on X, calling him an 'illegitimate president' (Instagram/@cbsmornings, Getty Images)
Days before Dolly Parton’s death, Stella had publicly criticized President Donald Trump on X, calling him an 'illegitimate president' (Instagram/@cbsmornings, Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dolly Parton’s sister Stella has claimed that none of the Nashville artists has paid their tributes to the late global icon after her death.

Dolly was 80 when she died on August 25 after a brief battle with cancer.

Stella Parton says 'not one' Nashville artist paid tribute to Dolly Parton

During an extensive interview with Gayle King for CBS Mornings, the 77-year-old singer shared, “I haven't heard from anybody in Nashville since my sister passed away. I haven't had one condolence from anyone – anybody that I know, entertainers that I know. Nobody. Not one.”

Stella also offered her own explanation for the silence. “I'm assuming it might be because of my political, you know, activism on social media. I don't know,” she added.

Stella Parton claims Dolly Parton had her own political views but she liked to keep it private

‘The Danger of a Stranger’ hitmaker is very vocal about her political views. Just a few days before her elder sister’s death, she had called out Donald Trump on X, as she called him an “illegitimate President”.

Elsewhere during the interview, when King asked Stella about Dolly’s political opinions, she replied, “She had them”, but “she would never have offended anyone.”

Dolly Parton and Stella Parton attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Television's
Dolly Parton and Stella Parton attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Television's 'Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors' on December 2, 2015 in Hollywood, California ( JB Lacroix/WireImage)

“She never would have done that. She was smarter than me. You know, I tell everything. And I like everybody knowing what I think about it. Not her!” she explained.

Stella also stated that her late elder sister did not disclose her views privately because she was “a good businesswoman”.

Stella Parton says Dolly 'knew where she was going' before her death

While speaking with King, the ‘I Want to Hold You in My Dreams Tonight’ singer even shed light on the 11-time Grammy winner’s final days.

Dolly was reportedly “at peace” before she breathed her last, surrounded by her loved ones.

FILE - Dolly Parton poses at the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Ceremony in New York, on Oct. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)
Dolly Parton poses at the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Ceremony in New York, on Oct. 13, 2022 (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)

“I know she was at peace. I could always tell by looking at her face, even if I hadn’t seen her in months,” Stella revealed, before noting, “On camera, I could tell if she was hurt, angry, happy or sad or felt bad. I could see it on her. She was my sister. You know, we were very close as a family.”

“She knew where she was going. She wasn’t going anywhere bad; she was going to be with Momma and Daddy. She was definitely prepared,” she added.

Stella even disclosed the reason behind Dolly’s private cancer battle. As per her, the late star “did not want anybody to tell that because Dolly could not bear negative things and she would not have wanted her fans worried about it. She didn’t want a lot of the family worried about it. Some of us knew the ones that were closer, but not every relative.”

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