Stella Parton Mourns Sister Dolly After Her Death at 80

Country singer Stella Parton has spoken publicly about the death of her older sister, Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer.

In a statement shared Thursday, Stella, 77, remembered Dolly as a kind, generous and thoughtful person. She said the sisters regularly spoke on the phone every Tuesday morning while drinking coffee, a tradition they shared for many years.

“My big sister Dolly got her wings,” Stella wrote. She added that Dolly’s Tuesday morning coffee time would never be the same, but her sister’s “love, respect and goodness” would live on.

Stella urged people who want to honor Dolly’s memory to follow her example by showing kindness, helping others and giving their time and resources.

Dolly and Stella were two of 12 siblings. Another sister, Freida, raised concerns about Dolly’s health late last year and asked fans to pray for her. Dolly later reassured fans that she was doing well, joking, “I ain’t dead yet!”

Dolly’s representatives said she spent her life bringing “joy, laughter, hope and integrity” to others. They also highlighted her philanthropy, including her Imagination Library, which has provided hundreds of millions of books to children, and her support for medical research.

Stella said Dolly “left the world a better place by being in it” and encouraged people to carry on her example of kindness.