Cher was moved to tears as she discussed the life and legacy of her longtime friend, Dolly Parton.
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During an appearance on CBS News on Tuesday, the "Strong Enough" singer reflected on the 50-year friendship shared with Parton. When asked if she was surprised that Parton handled her cancer battle privately, Cher explained that it was in her "spirit" to remain tight-lipped on the matter.
"No matter what was happening, she was either going to go with it, or it was going to get better," Cher said. "She just had a spirit. A spirit that was always thinking the best was happening, the best was going to happen. Her friends loved her. Her life was good, you know? That's who she was."
Cher Reflects on 50-Year Friendship With Dolly Parton
Cher wrote about meeting Parton for the first time in her 2024 book, Cher: The Memoir, Part One, at their late manager Sandy Gallin's house. She recalled the moment to CBS News.
"I walked in, and I see this chick with, like, this major hair. [She had] white pants and a white jacket-y shirt, but it's bitter tight. I've never seen so many buttons in my life," Cher described seeing Parton for the first time. "I went to Sandy, and I said, 'Sandy, who is that girl?' And he said, 'You know what, Cher, you better love her, she's gonna love you.' And it was the truth, and we did."
Cher admitted that she will miss Parton's laugh the most, adding that she had a special way of making everyone feel seen.
"When she walked across the stage, every once in a while, she would bend over to reach out. She reached out to the audience. And she reached out to the people who were closest to her, and she smiled. You know, it's a gift. You don't come by that gift."
Reps for Parton confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that the 11-time Grammy winner died on Monday after a "brief battle with cancer." At the time, the type of cancer was not disclosed.
"Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched," the statement began. "Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet. Yet she was always there to offer a helping hand."
