Dolly Parton's sister, Stella Parton, has pleaded with fans to stop posting "fake AI garbage" following the country singer's death, describing the volume of AI-generated content as "challenging to absorb". Parton died on 25 August at the age of 80, prompting an outpouring of tributes online and at sites such as the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, but much of it has taken the form of AI-generated songs, images and videos rather than genuine tributes. The plea echoes similar complaints from the families of other late celebrities, including Robin Williams and Robert Redford, over fabricated AI content shared in their names.

In her Instagram post, Stella Parton said her family had "no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers" and criticised those "exploiting the loss and tragedies of others". Examples of the AI content include an image shared by US President Donald Trump of himself with Parton, a widely criticised fake image showing the singer without make-up or a wig, and an AI-generated "tribute" in the style of Miley Cyrus that has drawn over 1.5 million YouTube views despite carrying an AI disclaimer. Parton herself had voiced unease about AI in a 2023 interview, saying the technology "scares" her when it comes to replacing human artists.