Stella Parton, sister of the late country music singer Dolly Parton, stated that the icon offered to undergo experimental medical treatments during her battle with cancer. According to a Facebook post by Stella Parton, the singer expressed a willingness to try experimental drugs even if there was "no hope" for her own recovery, with the goal of providing data that could assist others in the future.
The announcement follows the death of Dolly Parton on a Tuesday at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer. The singer had previously addressed health concerns in May, stating she was responding well to treatment for issues including kidney stones, though she had canceled scheduled performances in Las Vegas at that time. Her sister Freida Parton had also publicly requested prayers for the singer's health the previous October.
Dolly Parton was noted for her extensive philanthropic work through the Dollywood Foundation, established in 1988. Her charitable efforts included the Imagination Library, which provides books to children, and covering higher-education costs for employees of her Dollywood theme park. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University for COVID-19 research, a contribution that supported the development of the Moderna vaccine.
The disclosure regarding Dolly Parton’s willingness to participate in clinical trials highlights the role of high-profile patients in medical research. For medical institutions and pharmaceutical companies, participation from public figures can draw attention to the need for trial volunteers. In this specific case, Parton’s prior $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University already had a documented impact on the Moderna vaccine, which was administered to millions of people globally.
While the specific experimental drugs Parton discussed were not named, Stella Parton said the singer told her recently that if there was no hope for her, she would still allow her medical team to try experimental drugs in the hope of helping others in the future. Stella Parton added that she and Dolly Parton had weekly coffee dates on Tuesday mornings, and that her "Tuesday morning coffee time will never be the same." No specific dates for a memorial service have been released by the family at this time.