Dolly Parton’s sister Stella said the singer had privately offered to take experimental drugs if standard cancer treatments failed, hoping any medical findings could help future patients. The account presents this as an example of Parton’s generosity during a brief cancer battle before her reported death on 25 August.

Stella recalled their regular early-morning telephone coffees and asked supporters to honour Parton through kindness and generosity. The family said a small private service would be held, while encouraging donations instead of flowers to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children.