Dolly Parton’s Sister Stella Shares How the Singer Is Doing After Losing Multiple Loved Ones

Stella Parton is giving some insight into how she and her sister Dolly Parton are coping with their grief of losing family members and getting through a difficult chapter of life.

“We just have to laugh and laugh at ourselves as much as we laugh at everybody else, because if you take it too serious, you can’t carry the load. Those are endorphins, just like exercise or sex or a good meal,” Stella told People in an interview published on Friday, June 19. “I think that is a family trait.”

The two sisters lost three of their brothers in recent years: David in 2024, Randy in 2021, and Floyd in 2018, per People. Then, in March 2025, Dolly’s husband Carl Dean passed away.

Stella, 77, told the outlet that she and the country star, 80, have a morning phone call, which they refer to as their kaffeeklatsch, meaning an informal catch-up in German.

“I say, ‘This is Sissy. I’m here for our kaffeeklatsch.’ And so we talk and have our coffee,'” Stella explained. “She’s doing great. She’s very philosophical about everything as well, so we’re good. And if all else fails, we make a joke about it.”

As Examiner previously reported, Dolly has also been dealing with health challenges recently. In May, the “Jolene” hitmaker posted a video on Instagram, revealing that she had to cancel her residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which had been postponed from December 2025 to September 2026.

“I’ve always had problems with my kidney stones,” Dolly noted in the video. “My immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple of three years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding and strengthening those, and hopefully I’ll be up to snuff again soon.”

However, the 9 to 5 star was in good spirits and shared that she’s still working on her upcoming Broadway show, among other projects.