Dolly Parton’s sister is condemning the spread of misinformation and AI-generated content following the music icon’s death, saying her family has been forced to endure “incredible pressure” and “insensitivity” from strangers while grieving.
American singer-songwriter Stella Parton, 77, expressed gratitude in a Sept. 4 Instagram post to fans who have shown “genuine” support and love to her family during their bereavement. Her sister, legendary country music and pop singer Dolly Parton, died Aug. 25 at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
“Sadly, because of the ways our lives have been lived in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers,” Stella Parton wrote in her Instagram post.
“There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted everyday and it’s been challenging to absorb and or ignore,” she continued. “As time passes, those who are in the business of exploiting the loss and tragedies of others on a daily basis will move on to the next stampede of endless misinformation.”
The Christian Post reached out to Stella Parton for clarification about the AI-generated content she was referring to in her post. This article will be updated if a response is received.
While it is not clear what specific content the 77-year-old singer-songwriter was criticizing, AI-generated and misleading material involving Dolly Parton has circulated online since her death.
On Aug. 27, President Donald Trump shared an altered image on his Truth Social page that showed him and Dolly Parton walking around the White House. Another online user uploaded an AI song on Aug. 25 titled “I’ll Miss You Dolly.” The AI song was attributed to Dolly Parton’s goddaughter and pop singer Miley Cyrus, although she did not create it, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“She loved her fans and the public in general. That is the reason she chose not to express her opinions on a lot of things like politics, religion and individuals in the public eye,” Stella Parton’s Sept. 4 Instagram Post continued.
In an interview with “Extra” after Dolly Parton’s death, the singer’s niece, Jada Star Roberts, explained why her aunt chose to keep her health struggles private.
“We … kept all that stuff real private,” Roberts explained. “And so, she never wanted to worry anybody.”
Roberts, who is also a singer and songwriter who goes by the stage name Jada Star, said that her aunt’s death has been “really difficult and very surreal” for the family, but the outpouring of love from the country music legend’s fans has been “really bittersweet.”
“All of these tributes have helped so much to help us all through it,” Roberts said.
“I can’t remember a life without her. She would also tell us to start drying it up and start trying to get back to work and love each other real hard. She was just a trip,” Roberts said about her aunt.
In 2023, Roberts appeared on the ABC reality competition series “Claim to Fame” under the pseudonym “Jane.” She was one of 12 celebrity relatives who competed on the show before being eliminated after failing to identify another contestant’s famous relative.
Once she was eliminated, her connection to Parton was revealed, and her aunt appeared in a special video message recorded for her niece.
“I went to [Dolly Parton] first. I said, ‘Is it OK if I do this?’ And she said, ‘Absolutely. It’s OK,’” Roberts recalled during her recent interview with Extra. “She said, ‘Go out there. Don’t show your butt.’ And she said, ‘Keep your room clean.’ I was surprised as everyone else when she showed up, and so those tears were quite genuine.”
When asked if there is anything Roberts wished she could have said to her aunt while she was still alive, Roberts said, as she fought back tears and replied, “I think I would just say thank you so much and I love you so much, and I know you’re OK.”
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
