Dolly Parton’s family is sharing new details about the country music legend’s private cancer battle following her death at age 80.
Parton’s niece, Jada Star, opened up about her aunt’s decision not to publicly disclose her diagnosis during a Sept. 1 interview with “Extra,” explaining that protecting those around her was important to the singer.
Why Dolly Parton Chose to Keep Her Cancer Battle a Secret
Parton died Aug. 25 following a brief battle with cancer. Her representatives confirmed her diagnosis after her death in a statement to People, though the specific type of cancer has not been publicly disclosed.
According to Star, Parton’s decision to keep her illness out of the public eye was consistent with the way she approached the people she loved.
“She never wanted to worry anybody. So I think it was just a shock,” Star said.
Before her death, Parton had publicly dealt with other health concerns, including kidney and autoimmune issues, per People. She was admitted to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville on Aug. 21, four days before her death.
Inside Dolly Parton’s Private Battle with Cancer
In a statement announcing Parton’s death, her representatives reflected on both her decades-long career and the philanthropic work that became an important part of her legacy.
“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,” the statement read.
The statement also highlighted Parton’s Imagination Library, which has provided books to children around the world, as well as her financial support for medical research.
“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,” the statement concluded.
Dolly Parton’s Niece Says Her Death Still Feels ‘Very Surreal’
For Star, losing her aunt has meant adjusting to a life she has never known without Parton in it.
She described the days since Parton’s death as “really difficult” and “very surreal,” though she said the many tributes honoring the country star have brought some comfort to the family.
“All of these tributes have helped so much to help us all through it,” Star said. “I can’t remember a life without her. She would also tell us to start drying it up and start trying to get back to work and love each other real hard. She was just a trip.”
The singer’s family laid her to rest during a private service Aug. 28, according to her great-niece Lainey Parton. The ceremony was limited to immediate family, and Parton was laid to rest alongside her late husband, Carl Dean.
Dean, who largely stayed out of the spotlight throughout his wife’s career, died in March 2025. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years.
