Dolly Parton's sister, Stella Parton, has revealed that the country music icon's final request before her death was simply for "prayers", underlining the deep religious faith that sustained her as her health declined. Dolly died at the age of 80, and it later emerged that she had been privately battling cancer, a diagnosis she chose to keep from the public throughout her career of philanthropy and music, including her famous Imagination Library initiative.

Stella shared the details during an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, explaining that her sister wanted those closest to her to hold onto faith just as she had done throughout her life. The interview, which has been viewed more than 290,000 times, drew praise from fans for the way Stella protected her sister's privacy while still offering some closure. Stella also thanked supporters for their condolences in a social media post, saying her family would grieve "in our own personal way" following their loss.