Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

As a humble observer and admirer of Dolly Parton‘s extraordinary life, I find myself utterly captivated by her remarkable journey. From her humble beginnings as one of 12 siblings to her meteoric rise as an iconic figure in music and entertainment, Dolly’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and unwavering faith.

Dolly Parton will always love Carl Dean.

The artist famous for “Jolene” shared unusual glimpses into her long-lasting marriage with the Nashville native, which began in 1966 after they met at a laundromat. Among these insights were their creative and non-traditional approaches to exchanging Christmas gifts over six decades.

Dolly shared with TopMob News on December 5 that she and Carl have never purchased extravagant gifts for one another. Instead, she explained, if she comes across items throughout the years that she believes he would appreciate, she will gather these items when out and eventually present them to him.

And those gifts are “usually based on what he does” and his hobbies, according to the 78-year-old.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d like to share a delightful insight about my beloved partner: he finds immense joy working at our barn, a sanctuary where he channels his creative energies. His connection with the great outdoors is profound, and it’s not uncommon for me to invest in a variety of tools that cater to his passion for outdoor work.

Likewise, Carl is always on the lookout for presents that reflect Dolly’s many passions. 

She observed that he is aware I enjoy cooking at home, and he often purchases kitchen items for me – be it a new pot, pan, or gadget he spotted on TV which he believes I would appreciate.

The Grammy winner added, “We just buy practical things. We don’t worry about it, either.”

This festive period, Dolly – author of the recently published children’s book “Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas“, which draws on her personal experiences juggling work and family using her dog Billy as a creative metaphor – has already scheduled some quality time with Carl.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

She clarified that she always celebrates Christmas, as she plans ahead and ensures that her schedule is free during that time. She typically requests, “Please don’t arrange anything for me, especially not during the week of Christmas, because I want to spend it with my loved ones at home.

Referring to the holidays as a “special season,” Dolly mentioned her intention to celebrate Christmas with cherished family members.

She mentioned that she plans to spend time with her relatives and acquaintances in Eastern Tennessee. Additionally, she will be spending some time with Carl’s family too. Afterward, they are looking forward to enjoying a lot of food together.

For more of Dolly’s interview, tune into TopMob News on Dec. 5 at 11 p.m.

In the meantime, keep reading for a full look back at Dolly and Carl’s love story.

—Reporting by John Redmann 

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

In 1964, following her high school graduation, Dolly Parton had already left behind two boyfriends in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee. Therefore, starting a new relationship was not on her agenda as she moved to Nashville at that time.

Unfortunately, it was on the very street where she was headed to do laundry in the city famous for music, that she encountered Carl Dean.

According to Parton’s recollection, Dean was passing by in a white Chevrolet when he shouted, “It looks like you’ll get a sunburn out here, missy!

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

In her 2020 book “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics,” she expressed that they began conversing, and I developed feelings for him, while he reciprocated those feelings towards me. In another discussion, the petite artist (who was 18 at the time they met) mentioned how sun-kissed Dean appeared, standing tall at 6-foot-2 compared to her 5-feet stature. Given that he ran an asphalt paving business with his father, he had a tanned complexion from working outdoors.

She didn’t immediately jump into his car, but instead, as detailed in Stephen Miller’s 2011 biography, “Smart Blonde,” she cautioned, “You have to know someone or they might take you on a back road and harm you.” Dolly Parton invited Dean to visit her at her aunt and uncle’s house the following day, which he did, but she only agreed to sit with him outside. He returned every day for a week, and when he took her out for their first date, he first drove her to his parents’ home because, according to Parton, “he said he knew from the moment he saw me that I was the one he wanted.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

As I ascended the ranks within the music industry, forging a strong partnership with my uncle Bill Owens and my mentor Fred Foster at Combine Music, I found myself teetering on the brink of stardom as a vocalist. However, Fred cautioned me against taking the plunge into marriage, believing it could potentially derail my burgeoning career.

Instead of postponing their grand wedding, she and Dean decided to elope on May 30, 1966, in Ringgold, Ga. Avie Lee Parton, the bride’s mother, was the only witness present, also acting as their wedding photographer.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

They kept it so quiet, Foster didn’t even know they were husband and wife for a year, until one day the label exec—pointing to Parton’s growing success—cracked, “Now aren’t you glad you didn’t get married?” 

As a devout fan, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit about the iconic “Jolene” singer: Although my passport bears the name Dolly Parton Dean, I chose not to alter it professionally in the realm of music. This is because I had already secured a record deal under my birth name – Dolly Parton.

“However, if I had opted for Dolly Dean as my name in 2014,” she joked to The Guardian, “I would have been known as Double D again!” This version retains the original meaning while making it more natural and easy to read.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

At the grand BMI Awards dinner in 1966, Parton indeed invited her husband to accompany her. This was a significant occasion as they were both recognized in the country music category for penning the song “Postpone It Until Tomorrow.

Following that, Dean quickly removed his tuxedo before they had even reached the car. As Parton recounted in her book, he said, “I’m pleased for you,” and added, “‘Feel free to do as you wish, but don’t ever ask me to attend another one of those events again, as I won’t go.’ And true to his word, he hasn’t.

She’s already accumulated 48 BMI Awards, adding to her collection that includes 10 Grammys (excluding the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011), nine Country Music Association Awards, 13 Academy of Country Music Awards, and a multitude of other honors.

But the real prize has been waiting for Parton at home.  

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

In 2018, the star of 9 to 5 told People that she often jokes about the secret to her long marriage and enduring love. She usually responds, “Stay away!” There is a good deal of truth in that jest. Although I travel extensively, we truly appreciate each other when we’re together, and small gestures mean a lot to us.

On one of their initial dinner outings, they opted for the McDonald’s drive-thru in Dean’s Chevy, as Parton recounted, and their culinary preferences as a pair remained relatively casual (even though Forbes estimated Parton’s net worth to be $440 million in 2023). They continue to support local eateries and take road trips, with Ringgold—where they exchanged vows—being a frequent spot for them.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

In 2014, Parton shared with Billboard, “I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with my husband while we travel in our compact RV.” She added, “After touring for countless miles, I often say, ‘Let’s hit the road again.’ He might respond, ‘You’re exhausted from traveling, aren’t you?’ But I reply, ‘I’m a wanderer. I crave that nomadic life.’ When away from the spotlight, my life remains quite straightforward.

If you’re planning to spot Dolly Parton and Dean at places like Publix or Walmart that operate round the clock, be ready for late-night excursions. That’s what she shared with reporters in 2019 during her Netflix series premiere, Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings. “I’d go at night,” she said. “Believe it or not, I often have good luck that way. You bump into a few people, and I don’t mind—I love meeting new people. Just remember, I don’t want to interrupt my shopping spree.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

Despite the scarcity of public photos of the couple, which may have left Parton fans perplexed over the years, implying that her husband might be fictional, she wrote in her 2020 book: “Many people think I made him up.” However, the singer has occasionally shared vintage images with the public.

And she cheekily included her man on the cover of her 1969 album My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy, a composite image showing Parton daydreaming away about her rugged fellow in the lumberjack shirt.

However, Parton understands Dean’s discomfort with being in the limelight, so she has endeavored to keep him away from it whenever feasible.

In 2020, she shared with ET that he is someone who tends to be private and reserved. She explained that if he were to step into the limelight, as he feared, he would never have a moment of peace – and indeed, that seems accurate.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

On their 50th anniversary, they renewed their vows at home. At last, Dolly Parton could don the stunning wedding gown she had always wanted. Additionally, she composed a song to accompany their vows titled “Forever Love”, which was one of several tracks on her 2016 album Pure and Simple, inspired by her and Dean’s enduring love story.

She shared with Rolling Stone that she donned an exceptionally stunning dress for their second wedding day, while her husband was dapper as a leading man from the silver screen. They kept things intimate, inviting only a few loved ones to share in the celebration. To avoid any unnecessary stress or tension, they opted for a low-key event at their personal chapel. Essentially, it was a joyful and relaxed affair.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

Besides the typical queries regarding her formula for a successful marriage, Parton has also been asked quite a bit about why she and Dean continue to be a duo despite their status as a family of two.

Previously, Dolly Parton expressed in an interview with Billboard that she once felt remorseful about not having children. However, she explained that during her dating and married life, they had assumed they would have kids but it didn’t happen naturally. Now, she views this as a divine plan: ‘God didn’t intend for me to have children, so everyone else’s children can be mine.’

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share my excitement when I learned that, in a heartfelt conversation with The Guardian, they confided that if fortune had smiled upon them differently, they would have christened their little girl Carla. My mind swirls with curiosity, musing on the possibilities, just as they often did, contemplating what their children might have been like.

According to her, she believes she would have excelled as a mother, sacrificing all else out of guilt for leaving the children behind to pursue a career. She suggests that if she had become a mother, her life and career might have taken a different path.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

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

She shared with Billboard that she is extremely close-knit with her family, having lived with five of her younger siblings for a long time, and also maintains a strong bond with her nieces and nephews. As Carl and she grow older, they frequently express gratitude for not having children, as it means fewer concerns about childrearing responsibilities.

Which also leaves more time to focus on each other.

Dolly Parton Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Husband Carl Dean

In 2020, Parton shared with People that we still have special moments, just like the ones during spring when the first daffodils bloom. Even if there might be some remaining snow, my husband always presents me with a bouquet. He often writes a short poem as well, which to me is invaluable. That’s like having a date all on its own.

Regardless of whether they prefer a cozy candlelit meal at home or an adventure involving a stay at a Days Inn (so long as the room is clean with a bathroom), they find joy in simply doing what makes them content.

Despite Dean never attending events like the Grammys or Oscars, Dolly Parton, who almost always wears makeup and is seldom seen without it even during sleep, doesn’t require a specific occasion to dress up, and he still appreciates her dazzling style at its finest.

She stated that he assumes she will always present herself well since she doesn’t support idleness at home. However, generally speaking, “He doesn’t pay much attention to my clothing choices as long as I’m content. He adores me just the way I am.

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2024-12-05 06:18