Stella Parton, 77, told “CBS Mornings” in an interview that aired Thursday that she has not heard from entertainers she knows since her sister's death. Stella Parton suggested the lack of contact might stem from her political activism on social media, including a post opposing President Donald Trump that she shared days before her sister's death. “I’m assuming it might be because of my political activism on social media,” she said.

Dolly Parton's avoidance of politics

Dolly Parton, by contrast, was known for avoiding political statements. To me, that’s what I do.” She told the Guardian in 2019 that she had as many Republican friends as Democrat friends and preferred to keep her opinions private.

Stella Parton attributed her sister's reluctance to share political views to being a “good businesswoman.” She said Dolly “never would have” shared her opinions and “never would have offended anybody.”

When interviewer Gayle King asked whether the sisters held similar political views, Stella Parton did not answer. She stressed that she would “never talk about” whether Dolly shared her viewpoints in private, saying, “I have too much respect for her.”

Privacy around the cancer diagnosis

Stella Parton said Dolly did not want to publicly discuss her diagnosis to avoid causing concern among fans. “She didn’t want to worry people,” Stella said. She added that the family decided against disclosing the type of cancer because Dolly wanted that information private.

When King asked whether Dolly had specifically instructed family members not to reveal the type, Stella said, “No, but she didn’t tell us that we could say so.” She said, “It’s not my business to tell her business.”

Stella Parton confirmed that her sister kept the severity of her illness from some relatives, noting that some knew, but not every relative. She said Dolly was “prepared” for her death and was at peace in her final days. “I know she was at peace,” Stella said. “She knew where she was going.”

Stella also said Dolly would be happy and delighted that people have shown her so much love, because she knew that would make her family feel better. She said Dolly was upset with Freida Parton for posting a Facebook message in which Freida said she had been up all night praying for Dolly.

Breaking silence publicly

Stella Parton broke her silence on Dolly's death via Instagram two days after Dolly died. In the interview, she said she had “too much respect” for her late sister to share her specific cancer diagnosis.

Stella Parton’s comments aired on CBS Mornings with host Gayle King on Thursday, September 10.