According to a report by New York Post on Thursday, September 10, 2026, country music legend Dolly Parton’s sister, Stella Parton, has revealed that the final request her younger sister made to her was for prayer.

Stella, 77, shared the emotional detail during an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings on Thursday, September 10, in her first major interview since Dolly’s death.

Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Her family had kept details of her illness largely private, and Stella has now offered a glimpse into the country icon’s final days and the close relationship they shared.

“That’s the last thing Dolly asked me for, was prayer,” Stella recalled during the emotional interview.

The revelation came as Stella reflected on her sister’s personality, work ethic and unwavering optimism. She said Dolly remained committed to her work even while dealing with serious health challenges.

“My sister worked so hard for so long and just kept going. Even until the last conversation I had with her, she was working,” Stella said, describing work as one of Dolly’s greatest passions.

Stella also suggested that the singer did not always take sufficient care of her own health because of her relentless commitment to her career and other responsibilities.

“I think she worked too hard and didn’t take as good care of herself as she should,” Stella said.

The sisters shared a particularly close relationship. Stella revealed that they spoke on the phone every Tuesday morning while having coffee, a routine that continued for years.

Despite Dolly’s death, Stella said she still felt her sister’s presence at RCA Studios in Nashville, where the interview was conducted.

“She’s still in the room,” Stella said, reflecting on the memories associated with the legendary recording studio.

Another major revelation from the interview was that Dolly had deliberately kept her cancer diagnosis private from many members of her extended family.

According to Stella, only some of Dolly’s closest relatives knew about the illness before her death. She said the singer did not want people to worry or become consumed by sadness.

“Dolly could not bear negative things and she would not have wanted her fans worried about it,” Stella explained.

“She didn’t want a lot of the family worried about it,” she added.

Dolly’s family previously announced that she died at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.” Her representatives have not disclosed the specific type of cancer or how long she had been ill.

Stella’s latest comments are consistent with earlier revelations about Dolly’s approach to her illness. Before her death, Dolly reportedly remained willing to consider experimental cancer treatments if doctors believed they could potentially help other patients. Stella said her sister was prepared to turn even her own difficult experience into an opportunity to benefit others.

The country star’s decision to keep her condition private meant that her death came as a shock to millions of fans around the world.

Stella has also recently criticised the spread of false information and AI-generated material following her sister’s death. She urged the public to show greater compassion and respect while the family mourns.

Dolly’s funeral was held privately on August 28, with the ceremony attended by close family and loved ones. She was laid to rest beside her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025.

For Stella, however, the greatest part of Dolly’s legacy appears to be the person behind the global fame a hardworking, optimistic and deeply caring woman whose final request was simply for prayer.

Stella said her sister’s optimism was among the qualities she would miss most, describing Dolly as kind, loving, brilliant and extraordinarily creative.

Dolly Parton leaves behind a career spanning more than six decades, as well as a lasting influence through her music, philanthropy and literacy initiatives. Her sister’s latest revelations have offered fans a more personal picture of the woman behind the country music icon.

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