Dolly Parton kept her cancer diagnosis private because she did not want fans or loved ones to worry, her sister, Stella Parton, has revealed in a 'CBS Mornings' interview scheduled to air this September 10.
Dolly, who died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, chose not to tell everyone in her family about her illness. Stella said some of their closer relatives knew, but others did not. She explained that Dolly “could not bear negative things” and wanted to spare people from sadness and concern.
Dolly’s decision to keep her illness private reflects the difficult choices many public figures face when dealing with serious health issues. Despite living much of their lives in the spotlight, some celebrities choose to keep major diagnoses from the public, whether to protect their families, maintain their privacy, or simply process the news on their own terms.
Check out this gallery to discover which celebrities kept their serious illnesses a secret.