Dolly Parton's sister has issued a plea to fans over "fake AI garbage" being posted on social media following the singer's death, the BBC reports.

Tributes to country legend Parton have appeared online and at sites including Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, following her death on Aug 25, at the age of 80.

Parton’s sister, Stella, thanked those who had offered “genuine support” but criticised the “tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage” being posted online, the BBC said.

She called for greater compassion, echoing pleas from families of other celebrities targeted by AI tributes, including Robin Williams, Martin Luther King Jr and Robert Redford.

“Every human being experiences pain and loss in life and my family is no different,” Stella wrote on Instagram.

She criticised the “pressure and insensitivity” faced by public figures’ families, urging people to remember her sister’s life as “an example for tolerance”.

The BBC reported that AI-generated songs, images and videos have circulated since Parton’s death.

One AI image shared by US President Donald Trump showed him walking arm in arm with Parton. Another, depicting Parton without makeup or a wig, drew online criticism.

An AI-generated tribute styled as a Miley Cyrus cover has received more than 1.5 million YouTube views, despite a disclaimer saying it was not an official release.

Similar AI tributes styled after singers Pink and Celine Dion have also attracted significant attention.

Parton had also voiced concerns about AI replacing artists. In a 2023 interview, she said: “I want to just leave a body of work behind... not to replace voices and writings and not to replace a human being that belongs to God.”