Dolly Parton’s Niece Opens Up About the Family’s Shock Following Her Death
Dolly Parton’s death on August 25, 2026, left millions of fans grieving — but for her family, the loss was deeply personal and still difficult to process.
Parton died at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Her representatives confirmed that she died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones.
In a recent interview with Extra, Parton’s niece, Jada Star, opened up about the final period of her aunt’s life and explained why the country music icon chose to keep the full extent of her health struggles private.
“She never wanted to worry anybody,” Star said.
Although members of the family were aware that Parton had been dealing with health problems, Star said the news of her death was still difficult to comprehend.
“I think it was just a shock on Tuesday,” she recalled.
Jada Star remembers her aunt
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For Star, mourning Parton means coming to terms with the loss of someone who had been part of her life for as long as she could remember.
“I can’t remember a life without her,” she said.
Star also recalled the way Parton encouraged her family to keep moving forward even during difficult moments. According to her niece, Dolly would tell them to stop crying, return to work and, above all, continue loving one another.
“She would also tell us to start drying it up, and start trying to get back to work, and love each other real hard,” Star said.
As she spoke about her aunt, Star described Parton affectionately, adding, “She was just a trip.”
When asked what she would say to Parton if she had the opportunity, Star became emotional.
“I think I would just say thank you so much, and I love you so much, and I know you’re okay,” she said.
Parton’s decision to keep her illness private has also been discussed by other reports following her death. Her representatives confirmed that she had been facing a brief battle with cancer, while her family has continued to describe the loss as sudden and painful despite their awareness of her health challenges.
A family tribute at the Grand Ole Opry
Just days after Parton’s death, Star found herself honoring her aunt publicly at one of country music’s most important stages.
The Grand Ole Opry dedicated its August 29 show to Parton, following its tradition of honoring a deceased member during the first Saturday night performance after their passing.
The evening brought together numerous Opry members to celebrate Parton’s life and music. The tribute concluded with a group performance of “9 to 5,” followed by a video of Parton performing “I Will Always Love You.” Star was among those who took part in the emotional evening.
Speaking to the audience, Star reflected on how grief can become easier to carry when people face it together.
“I think that the weight of grief is lighter when we can bear it together, isn’t it?” she told the crowd.
She then thanked the audience for helping her family through their loss, adding that they hoped to offer the same support to Dolly’s fans.
Performing a song she shared with Dolly
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Star’s tribute became even more personal when she performed “The Orchard,” a song she recorded with Parton.
The song appeared on Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables, the 2024 collaborative album that brought together multiple generations of the Parton and Owens families. The project included new recordings as well as archival performances from family members.
“The Orchard” was released as a single by Jada Star and Dolly Parton in June 2024. Star, the daughter of Parton’s sister Freida, wrote the song and performed it alongside her aunt.
The album itself became an extensive musical portrait of Dolly’s family history, spanning generations and bringing relatives together through songs about their shared heritage.
For Star, performing “The Orchard” at the Opry offered a way to honor that connection while sharing her grief with the people who had spent decades celebrating Parton’s music.
The outpouring of tributes from fans, fellow musicians and the country music community has also provided some comfort to Parton’s family during an otherwise devastating time. Her legacy continues to be remembered not only through her music, but through the family relationships and creative collaborations she cherished throughout her life.
