Stella Parton Reflects On How Dolly Parton Felt Amid Her Husband's Illness: 'It Broke Her Heart'

Stella Parton reflected on Dolly Parton’s “sweet romance” with her husband of six decades, Carl Dean, and how she felt amid his illness.

Stella, 77, spoke with Gayle King in an interview on CBS Mornings. She shared memories of her beloved late sister, what she’ll miss most about her, opened up about Dolly's decision to keep her cancer battle private, and more. Dolly passed away “peacefully” on August 25 in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80. Her representatives confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE, “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.”

Dolly was laid to rest in a private service for immediate family beside Dean. Dean passed away nearly a year and a half before Dolly in March 2025. He was 82.

“He adored her,” Stella said on CBS Mornings. “He was fascinated with her. He thought she was funny like Tinker Bell, you know, and he was quiet and shy. Very much so. I was there with (them) the night that she won the first word in 1967, and he went to the BMI Awards. And I went back home with them that night and he was yanking off his tie and everything because he couldn’t stand all that crowd. And he said, ‘Now, listen, I’m not doing this ever again.’ …But they had a sweet romance. …He was proud of her and he loved her enough to let her be what she was.”

When asked whether she believes her sister died of a broken heart, Stella replied, “I think she was very sad [after Dean’s death], but I don’t think that’s why she got sick. I think she worked too hard and didn’t maybe take as good of care of herself as she should have. …I think it broke her heart to see him in the shape he, you know, got to before he passed away. But I don’t think that’s what made her sick. I think my sister worked so hard for so long and just kept going. You know, even o the last conversation I had with her, she was working. That was her passion.”

Parton and Dean met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat on her first day living in Nashville. She’d moved from her East Tennessee hometown to pursue her career in music. The couple said “I do” in May 1966 in Ringgold Georgia. Parton shared a rare glimpse into her relationship with Dean in an interview on Dumb Blonde in December 2024. She said at the time, “he’s hilarious — and I think one of the things that’s made it last so long through the years. We love each other. We respect each other. But we have a lot of fun.”

Dolly and Stella were two of 12 children born to Evie Lee Parton and Robert Lee Parton in Sevier County, Tennessee. The siblings also include Willadeene, David, Coy “Denver,” Robert Jr. (“Bobby”), Cassie, Randy, Larry (who died shortly after his birth in 1955), Floyd, Freida and Rachel. Dolly is preceded in death by siblings Larry, Floyd (who died in 2018 at age 61), Randy (who died in 2021 at age 67), David (who died in 2024 at age 82), and Coy (who died earlier this year at age 82).

An official announcement issued on August 25 stated that “Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000). …At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at www.dollyparton.com. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”

Stella said she would miss Dolly’s “optimism” most, and wants people to remember her sister as “very sweet, kind, loving, brilliant and so talented.” Watch her CBS Mornings interview here: