
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean
With the kind assistance of Dolly Parton/InstagramDolly Parton is one of the most loved stars on the planet. As a singer, actress and philanthropist, she is outlined than life; As a husband, she kept a veil of privacy over her marriage to the late husband Carl DeanHe died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
Parton and Dean tied the knot in 1966, just as her music career was coming out of earth. While she rose to glory, making her imprint in both Nashville and Hollywood, Dean managed to Stay out of the public’s eyesS Their union endured the test of the time, maybe because it was famous and it was not, making an easy balance of Yin-yang.
“We are the perfect partners,” Parton Speaking US Weekly In January 2022, “We both have a great sense of humor. … We are able to solve every problem and every situation, joking about it and not letting it become too heavy, but we respect ourselves and we like each other. Lucky, let’s just say it. “
She continued: “You know, most people can keep a marriage (go strong) if you make a little effort. Some people just descend both lazy and things that are not important, such as leaving the toilet seat up. And if this is the worst you are worried about, you are already in difficulty. “
Here’s all that Parton has said about his late husband over the years:
Why Dean stayed out of the spotlight
Jolen singer turned to Dean’s disgust to spotlights in an interview with 2020 with Entertainment tonightS
“Many people have thought that (he does not exist) over the years because he does not want to be in the spotlight at all,” Parton told The Outlet. “It’s just not who he is. He is like a quiet, reserved person. “
By the time she explained that Dean “understood if he had ever come out there in this, he would never get a minute peace and he was right about it”, adding that she was “always respected and appreciated” this side of him and worshiped his desire for confidentiality.
“He said,” I did not choose this world, I chose you and you chose this world. But we can keep our lives separately and together. “And we do it and have it,” said Parton. “We’re together for 56 years, married 54.”
Parton and Dean had a shared sense of humor
“When people ask me why it lasted for so long, I say,” Because I remain left. ” And there is a lot of truth in that – the fact that in 2020 we are not in the faces of each other, “Parton explained in 2020.” But we have great respect and admiration for each other. We both have a great sense of humor. So, we have a lot of fun. “
Despite their different levels of comfort with glory, Steel magnolia Star said she and Dean travel well together.
“We have many similar tastes,” she said. “We like to go around our little RV and we don’t like parties and all these things.”
Parton and Dean rarely beat throughout their 60-year-old marriage
“At any time (there is) too much tension, each of us can find a joke about it really disturb the tension where we don’t let him go so far,” Parton said to the podcast “dumb blonde” In December 2024, “We never fought back – behind – and I’m glad we never did it.”
Parton and Dean had compatible zodiac signs
According to Parton, she and Dean were astrologically combined.
“Well, he was a household man and it worked well for us,” she said in an interview with a dumb blonde. “He was in the asphalt pavement, but his sign is cancer, and I am Capricorn, and these are compatible characters. The Capricorn is the mountain goat because it always climbs and the cancer is a more domestic person. He really was. He wanted to be around home. I liked to go and see what else was there, but I think it works well for us. “
How did they meet
The couple met in front of Nashville Washed Washes in 1964.
“I left two boyfriends who wanted to marry me and to say,” No, I will move to Nashville, “Parton said in 2024, the year in which they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. “I thought,” The last thing I want is a boyfriend, “and so, I got here … On the day I reached Nashville, I met Carl Dean. And 60 years later, I’m still with Carl Dean! “
When Dean looked Parton, “My first thought was that I would marry this girl,” he revealed in statement At their 50th anniversary in 2016, “My second thought was:” Lord, it is good to watch. “And it was the day my life started. I would not trade the last 50 years for anything on this earth. “
As for Dolly, “I was surprised and delighted that as he spoke to me, he looked at my face (rarely something to me). He seemed truly interested in finding out who I was and what I was doing. “
Dean’s instability to industrial events
Once Parton “begged” Dean to attend the BMI award ceremony of the BMI Song of the Year of 1967.
“I hired him and asked him to go and, oh he was so uncomfortable all night,” she recalled “Blonde“Host Bunnie xoS “As we hit the door, he started to pull things. He said, “Look, now, I want you to do everything you want to do and I wish you the best, but never ask me to go to another of these damn things because I don’t go.” And he never did it! “
Despite his dislike for attending industrial events, Dean will continue to celebrate the couple’s personal stages – far from Parton’s dedicated fanbase.
“He doesn’t even like to go out for dinner, so even anniversaries, we usually stay home and do something special,” she recalls two months before Dean’s death. “We will now go to Mexican restaurants and sit on a cabin. He loves this! We’ll go sitting on a cabin … We know where to go before the big crowds come, but it’s just special to me. “
How they felt they had no children
Parton and Dean never become parents – something that doesn’t seem to be sorry.
“Now, when Carl and I are older, we often say,” Don’t you be glad we had no children? “We have no children to worry about now,“ Parton to say Billboard In 2014S
They kept the romance alive
The singer “You Come here again” celebrates Valentine’s Day with Dean, wearing the clothing “some little fun” and a shower Dean in gifts.
“I always carry something of heart shape and always get a few valentine’s cards,” Parton discovered US Weekly In 2022, “You know, because when you start looking for cards, you find so much and want them.”
At that time it was filled USA In his secret to keeping the spark with her husband.
“You Find small ways, ”said Parton, who was 76 at the time. “Like last year on his birthday, I dressed My Playboy Bunny CostumeHe made him breakfast and (running) around that for a while. “
The couple who cooks together stays together
“I am the better chef, but (Carl) can actually cook quite well,” Parton told USAAdding that “every time” she would let her husband lend a hand to the kitchen. “I went so much (that) that he had to (learn to cook), but he actually does quite well. He knows how to cook the things he likes but loves to cook better. “