Dolly Parton's sister Stella shares the singer's final request

Primary Journalistic Dispatch & Direct Reporting

In an interview on CBS Mornings that aired Sept. 10, Stella Parton , 77, told Gayle King "That's the last thing Dolly asked me for was prayer."

King brought up prayer when recounting that Stella and Dolly's younger sister Freida Parton, 69, prompted concerns over the musician's health in October when she asked the public to pray for her. Freida later clarified on Facebook at the time that she was not trying to scare anyone or "make it sound so serious."

In-Depth Developments & Factual Context

"I think Dolly got onto Freida about that," Stella said. "I don't know, because I haven't asked Freida because it was very touchy about all that. So I didn't wanna hurt Freida's feelings, and I didn't wanna mention it to Dolly, but I'm pretty sure Dolly said, 'Pipe it down.'"

She continued: "She knew Freida was just upset and hurt, but she thought, don't be telling my situation, Freida, don't be spilling my business."

Industry Impact & Strategic Analysis

Stella also opened up about Parton's battle with cancer, revealing that the "9 to 5" singer offered to take experimental drugs "because if it can't help me, maybe it'll help somebody else."

She also said that Dolly was "definitely prepared" and at peace with her death.

Forward Outlook & Market Perspective

"She knew where she was goin'," Stella said. "She wasn't goin' anywhere bad. She was going to be with Mama and Daddy."

No matter how much time had passed without them seeing each other, Stella said she could always tell how Dolly was doing just by looking at her. "On camera, I could tell if she was hurt, angry, happy or sad, or felt bad. I could see it on her," she added.

Stella also echoed comments her niece, Jada Star , made that Dolly kept her cancer diagnosis private because she didn't want to make the public sad and that not all of her relatives knew she was sick. She added that Dolly would be delighted that people have shown her so much love.

"Dolly could not bear negative things. And she would not have wanted her fans worried about it," she said

Stella, Dolly and Freida were three of 12 children welcomed by their mother Avie Lee and father Robert Lee Parton. The couple married in 1939 and the music legend was born in 1946 in Locust Ridge, Tennessee.

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