Dolly Parton has opened up on life following the death of her beloved husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who sadly passed away on March 3, 2025.
Reflecting on her journey with grief, the 79-year-old told Today, “Oh, you know what, I get very emotional when people bring it up, but we were together 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old. It’s a big adjustment just trying to change patterns and habits.”
“I’ll do fine and I’m very involved in my work, and that’s the best thing that could happen to me, “Dolly continued, adding, “But I’ll always miss him, of course, and always love him. He was a great partner to me.”
Dolly’s comments come just over two months after the country music star confirmed the news of her husband’s passing.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years,” Dolly said in a heartfelt statement, thanking fans for their prayers and sympathy.
Despite Dolly’s global superstardom—known for hits like Jolene and 9 to 5—her marriage to Carl remained a steadfast and quiet foundation of her life. Their love story, from their secret wedding in 1966 to their peaceful years together in Tennessee, is one of music’s most enduring romances.
As Dolly continues to grieve this immense loss, we look back at the beautiful relationship that defined her personal life for more than half a century.
Who is Dolly Parton’s husband?
Dolly Parton, the legendary queen of country music, was married to Carl Thomas Dean for nearly six decades.
Despite Dolly’s glitzy, public life, Carl preferred to stay out of the spotlight.
The pair tied the knot in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, on May 30, 1966, after meeting at a laundromat on Dolly’s first day in Nashville.
“My first thought was I’m gonna marry that girl,” Carl said in a statement for the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary in 2016. “My second thought was, Lord she’s good lookin’. And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth.”
While Dolly conquered the music world, Carl happily supported her from the sidelines, embracing a quieter life at their Tennessee home.
“He was a homebody, and that worked well for us,” she told the Dumb Blonde podcast in 2024. “He loves music but is not the least bit interested in being in it.”
How many times has Dolly Parton been married?
Dolly Parton has been married just once. Her marriage to Carl Dean lasted for 58 years before his death in 2025.
According to Dolly, they maintained their relationship by choosing not to argue and kept their sense of fun alive.
In 2024, Dolly opened up on the Dumb Blonde podcast, revealing that laughter and mutual respect were the cornerstones of their lasting relationship. “We never fought back and forth,” she said.”And I think one of the things that’s made it last so long through the years is that we love each other [and] we respect each other, but we have a lot of fun.
Instead, the couple diffused tension with humour and avoided letting disagreements escalate. Carl’s support was also been instrumental in Dolly’s career, as he encouraged her dreams while staying happily out of the limelight.
“Anytime there’s too much tension going on, either one of us can like, find a joke about it to really break the tension, where we don’t let it go so far….We never fought back and forth. And I’m glad now that we never did, because once you start that, that becomes a lifetime thing. I’ve seen it with so many people, and I thought, ‘I ain’t ever starting that.’
“I couldn’t bear to think that he’d say something I couldn’t take… because I’m a very sensitive person toward other people and myself.”
Although Dolly has faced personal challenges, including an “affair of the heart,” her faith and love for Carl kept them together. She previously admitted to moments of insecurity, famously writing the hit song Jolene about a bank teller who caught Carl’s attention. But their bond endured, strengthened by their commitment to each other.
What does Dolly Parton’s husband do for work?
Carl Thomas Dean worked in the asphalt paving business for most of his career.
He was a self-proclaimed homebody who enjoyed maintaining their property and living a peaceful life out of the public eye. Dolly often joked about their differing personalities—she’s the social butterfly, and he was the quiet introvert—but it was this balance that kept them happy together.
How many children does Dolly Parton have?
Dolly and Carl never had children of their own, a choice that Dolly said was ultimately for the best. “Now that Carl and I are older, we often say, ‘Aren’t you glad we didn’t have kids?’” she previously shared with Billboard.
While she once had regrets, Dolly embraced her role as a loving aunt and godmother, famously to Miley Cyrus, and has poured her nurturing energy into philanthropic efforts like her Imagination Library, which promotes children’s literacy.
Why has Dolly Parton stopped touring?
After decades of dazzling performances, Dolly recently announced she had no plans to embark on long tours anymore. Her decision stemmed from a desire to spend more time with Carl as they both grew older. While she still enjoys performing occasionally, she prioritised her husband and their shared moments of simplicity, whether it was travelling in their RV or hitting the Taco Bell drive-thru for date night.
“I don’t tour anymore, I have so many business things and my husband and I are getting older… and I need to kind of be with him, and I have so many things, as you can see going on anyway,” Dolly explained to Good Housekeeping before Carl’s passing.
