Dolly Parton’s Cousin Richie Owens Discusses Her Health Struggles, Burial: EXCLUSIVE

Dolly Parton’s first cousin Richie Owens has shared that the country music icon kept her health struggles private from even some family members in the time leading up to her death, choosing instead to keep everyone optimistic. The country music legend and actor died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80 from what a family spokesperson said was “a brief battle with cancer.” Owens, who was a musical collaborator with Parton and also serves as the Parton family historian, stopped by TODAY Sept. 3 to speak about her life and legacy. Parton had shared in the months leading to her death that she had been struggling with health issues but did not publicly state that she had cancer. “She of course posted herself that she had been going through health problems, but no one really knew what a lot of that was, including myself,” Owens said.