Dolly Parton’s Heartbreaking Tribute After Losing Husband Carl Dean

Dolly Parton will think of Carl Dean every step of the way.

In just a few short days following the passing of her longtime partner, Dolly expressed heartfelt sentiments about her grieving process in a touching post she wrote herself.

The opening line of the March 6th post reads: “This is a heartfelt message to family, friends, and supporters.” It continued by expressing gratitude for the condolences received in the form of messages, cards, and flowers, sent as a gesture of sympathy following the passing of my cherished husband, Carl.

Moreover, even though she admitted that she couldn’t reply to everyone expressing their good wishes, she made it clear that the encouragement has been “absolutely invaluable” to her instead.

He’s safe in divine care now, and I find peace in that,” the 79-year-old stated next, followed by a heartfelt note to Carl: “My love for you remains constant.

Three days following Carl’s peaceful departure at the venerable age of 82, Dolly conveyed an emotional message filled with love. Although specifics regarding his passing were not disclosed, they hinted that a small, intimate service would honor Carl’s memory.

At the time, Dolly shared a brief statement about their enduring partnership.

On March 3, the country music star expressed that Carl and he had enjoyed countless beautiful moments together. He acknowledged that words fall short when expressing the deep love they shared for more than six decades.

She concluded with thanks for the “prayers and sympathy.”

In my account, Dolly and I seldom graced the public sphere hand-in-hand, as Carl harbored an intense aversion towards social engagements. A vivid example is that he pleaded with me to keep him away from any future public appearances, such as the 1967 event we shared, which left him so discomforted. Yet, our love story remains one for the chronicles.

Dolly herself pointed out that although Carl didn’t thrive on public attention, his quiet, unseen support was incredibly valuable.

She shared with TopMob News in May, “It matters greatly to have someone by your side who genuinely appreciates and loves you for who you truly are.” She added, “There’s a profound sense of comfort in knowing that someone cherishes you just as you are—he fell for me even before I achieved stardom.

She went on to say, “We simply appreciate each other very much. One of our favorite activities isn’t confined to date nights; rather, we have numerous ‘date days.’ We love taking our small RV for trips, sometimes grabbing food along the way or even preparing a picnic and heading down to the river.

For more on their epic love story, keep reading.

In 1964, after leaving behind two former beaus in her native Sevierville, Tennessee, Dolly Parton wasn’t exactly eager for a new romance as she set off for Nashville, immediately following her high school graduation.

Unfortunately, it was on her stroll towards the laundry place, right after settling in Nashville, that she encountered Carl Dean.

According to Parton (Dean, who passed away on March 3, 2025 at the age of 82), it is said that he was passing by in a white Chevrolet and shouted, “It looks like you’re going to get sunburned out here, young lady!

In her 2020 book Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, she mentioned that they began conversing, and it was then that I fell for him, and he reciprocated my feelings. In another conversation, the petite artist, who was only 18 when they crossed paths, remembered Dean’s tanned complexion as he stood tall at 6-foot-2 compared to her short stature of just 5 feet. Being that he owned an asphalt paving business with his father, the 22-year-old was frequently exposed to the sun.

She didn’t immediately jump into his car, but instead, she made it clear that she was cautious. As Stephen Miller’s 2011 biography, “Smart Blonde,” notes, she warned him about the dangers of unknown people and back roads. Despite this, Parton did invite Dean to visit her at her aunt and uncle’s house the next day. He visited as invited, but she only agreed to sit with him outside. For a whole week, he continued to come by, and on their first official date, he took her to his parents’ house first because, according to Parton, “he said he knew from the moment he saw me that I was the one he wanted.

However, as she began to gain recognition as a songwriter, frequently teaming up with her uncle Bill Owens, who was also her boss at Combine Music, Fred Foster, advised against her marriage, suggesting it could be detrimental given that she was on the brink of achieving major success as a singer.

Instead of postponing their grand wedding, she and Dean made a sudden decision to elope. On May 30, 1966, they traveled to Ringgold, Ga., where Avie Lee Parton, the bride’s mother, was present to witness their nuptials and even served as their photographer for the occasion.

I was absolutely blown away when I discovered that Dolly Parton and Glen Campbell had been secretly married for an entire year! I mean, here I was thinking they were just the best of friends, but all along they were husband and wife. It wasn’t until one fateful day, as I watched Dolly’s star rise higher and higher, that their label exec finally let the cat out of the bag. He gleefully exclaimed to a stunned audience, “And now aren’t you glad you didn’t get married?” Boy, was I ever! What a fantastic surprise!

Dolly Parton clarified that although her passport lists her as Dolly Parton Dean, she opted not to alter her professional name due to the existing recording contract under her birth name.

In another scenario, she jokingly told The Guardian in 2014 that if her name had been Dolly Dean, she would have called herself Double D instead!

At the BMI Awards banquet in 1966, Parton was accompanied by her husband to a significant event, as they were both being recognized in the country category for their songwriting collaboration on “Put It Off Until Tomorrow.

Later on, Dean removed his tuxedo before they had even arrived at the car. In her book, Parton wrote that he said, “I’m happy for you. Do whatever you want, but please don’t ask me to another one of those events again, because I won’t go.” And he hasn’t since then.

48 BMI Awards is just one of the numerous awards she’s received so far, joined by 10 Grammys (excluding a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011), 9 Country Music Association Awards, 13 Academy of Country Music Awards, and a plethora of other recognitions.

But the real prize was always waiting for Parton at home.

In 2018, the star of 9 to 5 told People, “I usually joke and laugh when folks ask me about the secret to my long marriage and enduring love.” She added, “I often reply ‘Stay away!’ and there’s quite a bit of truth in that. I travel extensively, but we truly cherish each other when we are together and appreciate the small things we do.

One of their initial dates involved picking up dinner from a McDonald’s drive-thru using Dean’s Chevy, as Parton reminisced. Their culinary preferences as a couple didn’t evolve much into something more extravagant, despite Forbes estimating Parton’s net worth to be $440 million in 2023. They frequented local eateries and embarked on road trips often, with Ringgold – where they got married – being one of their favorite spots to visit.

Dolly Parton shared with Billboard in 2014 that she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband while traveling in their small RV. She admitted, “Even after long tours covering thousands of miles, I still crave adventure by saying, ‘Bring on the camper; let’s hit the road.’ He might respond, ‘You’ve had enough travel, haven’t you?’ But I’m a nomad at heart. I can’t resist the wanderlust.” When she’s away from the spotlight, her life remains uncomplicated.

Though if you wanted to catch her and Dean at Publix or Walmart, you had to stay up late.

During the dead of night, I’d visit places operating around the clock,” Dolly Parton shared with reporters in 2019 at her Netflix series premiere, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings. “Believe it or not, I’d often find myself having good fortune. There weren’t many people around, and I enjoy being among them—I just don’t want to delay my shopping.

Despite the scarcity of images showing them together in public settings potentially causing speculation among Dolly Parton fans over the years, such as “Many people suspect that my husband is fictional and I merely invented him”, she penned in her 2020 book – the artist has occasionally shared vintage photographs with the public.

And she playfully featured her boyfriend on the cover of her 1969 album “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy,” presenting a combined picture that depicted Parton dreamily lost in thoughts about her lumberjack-clad companion.

However, Parton acknowledged Dean’s discomfort with the limelight, thus she made every effort to keep him away from it whenever feasible.

Back in 2020, I shared with ET that he’s quite the introverted soul. I believed then, and still do now, that if he ever stepped into the limelight, he’d never have a moment’s rest – and boy, was I spot on!

On their 50th wedding anniversary, they renewed their vows at home, and at last, Parton donned the magnificent wedding gown she had always yearned for. Additionally, she wrote a song to complement their vows titled “Forever Love,” which was among several pieces inspired by her and Dean’s eternal love affair on her 2016 album entitled “Pure and Simple“.

She shared with Rolling Stone about her second wedding day, where she donned an exquisite dress and her husband wore a dashing Hollywood-esque outfit. A small gathering of family and friends joined them. To avoid any stress or tension, they opted for a low-key celebration. Instead of a grand affair, they had a simple ceremony at their chapel on their property, enjoying the day together without any unnecessary fuss.

Alongside the typical queries regarding her recipe for a successful marriage, Parton also responded to questions concerning her and Dean’s unique family dynamic being just the two of them.

As I once pondered over the idea of feeling remorseful about it, I shared this perspective with Billboard regarding not having children. Initially, when my partner and I were courting and later married, we presumed we would become parents. We weren’t taking any preventive measures at all. In fact, we had even chosen names if the situation had unfolded differently. However, life took a different course, and now I find myself saying, “God didn’t intend for me to have children; instead, everyone’s kids can be mine.

In an interview with The Guardian, it was revealed that if they had a daughter, they would have called her Carla. Dean and she often pondered about the kind of children they could have had.

In her own words, Dolly Parton expressed, “I believe I would have excelled as a mother.” She further added, “I might have sacrificed everything else for my children, as I would have felt remorseful if I had to work and leave them behind. My life would have taken a different course. It’s possible that I wouldn’t have become a star.

But as the fourth of 12 siblings, she has had plenty of people in her life to dote on.

She shared with Billboard that her family is incredibly important to her; for a long time, five of her younger siblings resided with her and her partner. They have a close bond not only with their own children but also with their nieces and nephews. As they grow older, she and her partner often remark, “Aren’t we grateful we didn’t have children? That way, we don’t have to worry about them.

Which also left more time to focus on each other.

In 2020, Parton shared with People, “We still cherish those special moments, reminiscent of spring when the first daffodils bloom. Even if there’s some snow lingering, my husband always gifts me a bouquet. He often writes a short poem too, which I treasure dearly. To me, that’s invaluable, it feels like a date all on its own.

They found greatest joy in either enjoying a cozy dinner at home with candles, or venturing out for an overnight stay at a Days Inn (as long as the room was spotless and had a restroom), simply doing what made them happy.

Despite Dean not attending events like the Grammys or Oscars, Dolly Parton is almost always dressed up, even sleep can’t undo her makeup, and she enjoys getting ready without needing a special occasion. As a result, Dean frequently saw his wife in her elegant style.

She mentioned that he assumes she’ll always be well-put-together because she values not being lazy at home. However, in essence, “He pays little attention to my choice of clothing as far as I’m content. He cherishes me just the way I am.

2025-03-06 21:48

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