I think we’d all be better off by following Dolly’s example.
Last week, Dolly Parton sadly passed away at 80-years-old in Nashville Tennessee. Dolly had been dealing with undisclosed health issues for the last year or so, and she previously shared that she was having issues with severe kidney stones. Aside from that, she understandably didn’t share more, though clearly there were more serious issues going on.
Dolly’s reps confirmed she sadly died following a “brief battle with cancer,” though the specific kind was not revealed. Dolly had been open about her health struggles over the last several months, though it sounds like the cancer was a more recent development.
While the world mourns, even more so does Dolly’s family, and her sister, Stella, took to Instagram last to share a lengthy post about her love for her big sister and Dolly’s final days. Stella explained that she and Dolly used to have coffee together and catch up very early on Tuesday mornings, because growing up farm girls, they continued to be early risers throughout their lives.
And today, she shared another very lengthy post about her reflections from her coffee hour since her sister is gone, and she thanked all of the fans who have shown “genuine” support for their family during such a difficult time.
But she also called out strangers who have been “insensitive” and put them under pressure, and have made this public grieving process much more difficult. She also noted how frustrating “AI and endless garbage” has made their lives harder, as you can imagine.
Stella also noted how Dolly would be “surprised and delighted” by all of the love their family has been shown because of how much she loved her fans and people in general:
“As most of you who follow my accounts know, I’m an early riser, so here goes during my coffee hour. First let me say, thank you to the ones of you who have shown ‘genuine’ support and love during this time of our family bereavement. We will be okay in time, but each of us will grieve in our own personal way. Every human being experiences pain and loss in life and my family is no different.
Sadly, because of the way our lives have been lived in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers. There is a tremendous amount if AI and endless garbage being posted every day and it’s been challenging to absorb and or ignore. As time passes, those who are in the business of exploiting the loss and tragedies of others on a daily basis will move on to the next stampede of endless misinformation.
My big sister Dolly would be surprised and delighted by the love her family and she has been shown during this time. She loved her fans and the public in general. That is the reason she chose not to express her opinions on a lot of things like politics, religion and individuals in the public eye. She knew as well as anyone what a negative vortex that could turn into, which is nothing but a huge waste of energy.”
She continued, saying Dolly had a huge heart and tenderness for people because of things she went through as a child. Stella explained that the feeling of being told you were “less than, undeserving or insignificant were deep wounds” on all of the 12 Parton children.
She didn’t expound on that, but she did encourage people reading her post to use her sister’s life as an example of how to treat others, and I wholeheartedly agree with that:
“My sister was a positive influence to the world into which she was born. She used her music as a tool and a passion to move people in a positive way. But her heart was so big and tender toward anyone who felt, as she often felt as a child.
The feeling of being told you were less than, undeserving, or insignificant were deep wounds on all of us children. I walked alongside her my entire life, and witnessed and experienced many of the same slights and insults even through this recent loss in our lives. Finally, I ask that you show more compassion ad wisdom as we move forward in life.
Use my sister’s life as an example for tolerance and wisdom and respect toward others. It’s not about the most clever comments, false AI garbage or snarky tweets. at the end of the day or the end of a life, how will you feel about yourself? It’s not about what other individuals you will never meet think of you!”
It’s clear just how beloved Dolly was by the world just by seeing all of the outpouring since her passing, and I imagine having fake stories or things of that nature only make it harder to grieve someone you knew and loved personally.
Stella has always been very outspoken and handled her public imagine quite differently than her sister, as she pointed out in the post below, but I can’t say I blame her for sticking up for her sister and her family during such a hard time.
You can read the full post here:
