New details about Dolly Parton’s final year are surfacing, and they’re every bit as moving as you’d expect. According to TMZ, the country legend quietly boarded a private jet and flew to Frankfurt, Germany, roughly a year before her death to receive an experimental cancer treatment. She stayed about a week, and insiders say she believed the treatment helped restore her strength. The exact procedure has not been revealed.
What makes the story hit even harder is how carefully Dolly guarded her diagnosis. Her sister Stella Parton said some family members didn’t even know she was battling cancer. Dolly reportedly kept her illness private because she couldn’t bear the thought of her fans worrying about her. She also allowed her medical team to try experimental drugs, hoping the results could one day help other patients. Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80 and was buried Aug. 28 at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum, next to her late husband.
Stella remembered her sister as“one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people I’ve ever known,”and this new chapter of the story only backs that up. Dolly spent her last year protecting the people she loved and thinking about strangers she’d never meet.
What’s your favorite Dolly Parton memory? Share it with us in the comments.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.