Dolly Parton's sister reveals the singer's last wishes, including a surprising offer to her doctors

Dolly Parton’s final act of generosity may have been one of her most remarkable.

After the country music legend died at 80 on August 25 following a private battle with cancer, her sister Stella Parton revealed that Dolly had been prepared to help other patients even if her own treatment could no longer save her.

In a heartfelt tribute shared after her sister’s death, Stella described Dolly as one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people she’d ever known.

She also disclosed a conversation they’d had recently, saying Dolly told her that if doctors could no longer offer hope for her recovery, she’d still permit her medical team to try experimental drugs.

“My sister was one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people I’ve ever known,” wrote Stella on Facebook.

“What the world saw is exactly who she was, so much so, she told me recently that if there was no hope for her, she would still allow her medical team to try experimental drugs in the hope of helping others in the future.

“My sister was always thinking of others and if you want to honor her legacy, show more kindness, lift others up and give more of your time and resources as she continued to do to the very end.”

The revelation adds to Dolly’s final chapter. Her family confirmed that she’d been secretly battling cancer, though they haven’t publicly identified the type.

Reports also indicated that she’d been hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville shortly before her death, reportedly dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues.

Dolly’s family is expected to honor her wishes with a small, private funeral service for immediate family members in Nashville.

Dolly’s music surges following her death

While Stella’s tribute has highlighted Dolly’s compassion, the singer’s extraordinary musical legacy has also received an enormous wave of attention since her passing.

Data from Luminate showed that streams of Dolly’s music in the United States surged from 1.2 million on August 24 to 26.3 million the following day. That represents an extraordinary 2,109% increase. Globally, her audio and video streams climbed 1,280%, rising from 2.5 million to 35 million.

“Jolene” experienced one of the biggest jumps, increasing from more than 196,000 streams to 2.7 million. “9 to 5” climbed to 2.3 million, while “Islands in the Stream,” her famous collaboration with the late Kenny Rogers, reached 1.8 million.

Dolly’s own recording of “I Will Always Love You” also saw renewed interest, reaching 1.7 million streams. The song was later transformed into a global smash by Whitney Houston , but its origins remained firmly rooted in Dolly’s songwriting.

Other songs receiving a major boost included “Here You Come Again,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “There Was Jesus,” “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That?” and “My Tennessee Mountain Home.”

Her more recent collaboration with Beyoncé , “Tyrant,” also experienced a substantial increase.

Dolly Parton spent decades entertaining millions while using her success to make a difference. Even near the end of her life, her reported willingness to help future patients suggests that putting others first remained central to who she was.