Dolly Parton’s sister, Stella Parton, has shared how she and Dolly use humor to get through difficult times. In a new interview with People published on June 19, Stella said laughter has long been a Parton family rule, helping the sisters “carry the load” during hard moments.
The 77-year-old singer said she and Dolly, 80, often speak early in the morning over coffee, calling their catch-ups a “kaffeeklatsch.” Stella said Dolly is “doing great” and remains philosophical, adding that “if all else fails, we make a joke about it.”
The comments come after a difficult few years for the Parton family, including the deaths of brothers Floyd, Randy, and David, as well as the 2025 death of Dolly’s husband, Carl Dean. Dolly has also faced ongoing health challenges, though she told fans in May that she was responding well to medication and treatment.
From her 1967 debut album to ‘9 to 5’ (1980), Dollywood, and decades of music, Dolly Parton remains one of country music’s most beloved figures. Click through to find out more about the life and legacy of the country music legend.