Dolly Parton will always love Carl Dean.
Indeed, the renowned figure in country music praised their long-lasting marriage extensively during the months leading up to Carl’s passing, which occurred on March 3, when he was 83 years old.
In an exclusive interview with TopMob News co-hosts Keltie Knight and Justin Sylvester back in May, Dolly emphasized the significance of having someone by your side who truly accepts and loves you for who you are. She added that there’s a great sense of peace in knowing someone cherishes you without any conditions—as he fell in love with her even before she achieved stardom.
While Carl had always preferred to remain outside of the spotlight, he was her biggest cheerleader.
In a playful manner, he once said, “I am like his shining light.” He added that their relationship works well because they each have distinct roles and it’s thrilling when they are together.
She went on to say, “We genuinely appreciate each other. One of the things that bring us joy isn’t necessarily formal date nights, but rather, we have numerous ‘date days.’ We love taking our compact RV for trips and exploring. Sometimes we grab some food or I prepare a picnic and head to the river.
And whenever she was on the road alone, the “Jolene” singer always had her man in mind.
She clarified to TopMob News in December that Carl and she have never splurged on extravagant gifts for one another. Instead, when she comes across items over the years that she believes he would appreciate, she will accumulate these finds and present them to him as surprises.
The 9-to-5 actress elaborated, stating, “I prefer to arrange everything in advance.” She frequently informs her team, “Don’t schedule me, especially during the Christmas week, as I must be at home with my loved ones.
For more insight into Dolly’s love story with Carl, keep reading…
Carl too appreciated this longstanding custom, as she pointed out. She mentioned, “He understands my fondness for cooking when I’m at home and he always treats me by purchasing kitchen items. It could be a new pot, a new pan, or something else he’s spotted on TV that he believes I might appreciate.
I can’t help but cherish every moment I get to share the holiday season with Carl, as it’s something Dolly and I call a “sacred time” for us. Needless to say, I never let an opportunity pass to celebrate Christmas together.
I always cherish the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with Carl, for it is a time we both regard as deeply significant in our relationship.
The 9-to-5 actress shared that she prefers to arrange everything in advance. She frequently tells her team, “Don’t schedule me, especially during the Christmas week, as I want to be at home with my loved ones.
For more insight into Dolly’s love story with Carl, keep reading…
The 9-to-5 actress emphasized that she usually arranges everything in advance. She frequently informs her team, “Please don’t schedule me, especially during the Christmas week, as I want to spend time at home with my loved ones.
For more insight into Dolly’s love story with Carl, keep reading…
Dolly Parton had parted ways with two suitors in her birthplace, Sevierville, Tennessee, before moving to Nashville in 1964, immediately following her high school graduation. Starting a new romantic relationship was not on her agenda at that time.
Sadly, it was on the street, en route to a laundromat, that she encountered Carl Dean for the first time, on the very day of her arrival in Nashville (Music City).
According to the recollection (since Dean, who passed away on March 3, 2025, at 82, never addressed the media), it was while passing by in a white Chevrolet that he playfully remarked, “You’re going to get sunburned out here, missy!
In her 2020 book titled “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics“, she wrote about how they began conversing, and I found myself falling for him, while he fell for me as well. During another interview, the petite artist (she was only 18 at the time) remembered how tanned Dean appeared as he towered over her at 6-foot-2, since he had a thriving asphalt paving business with his father which exposed him to sunlight regularly.
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 down a secluded road and harm you.” Despite this, Dolly Parton invited Dean to visit her at her aunt and uncle’s place the following day. He did come, though she preferred to sit with him outside. For a week straight, he returned daily, and when they went on their first date, he drove her to his parents’ house initially because, as Parton stated, “he knew right from the moment he saw me that I was the one he wanted.
However, as she was gaining recognition as a songwriter, often working with her uncle Bill Owens at Combine Music, Fred Foster, her boss, advised against her marriage, suggesting it could be detrimental to her burgeoning singing career, on the brink of a major breakthrough.
Rather than postponing our grand nuptials any further, Dean and I made the spontaneous decision to elope in Ringgold, Georgia on May 30, 1966. On this special day, my mother, Avie Lee Parton, was not just a spectator but played a significant role as both our witness and our cherished wedding photographer.
For a full year, they had managed to keep their marital status a secret from Foster, as he was unaware that they were husband and wife. This remained hidden until one day, the record executive, in acknowledgment of Parton’s growing success, blurted out, “Aren’t you thankful now that you didn’t tie the knot?
Dolly Parton, known for singing “Jolene”, revealed that although her passport reads as Dolly Parton Dean, she chose not to alter her professional name as she had an existing recording contract under her birth name.
In 2014, she jokingly told The Guardian that if her name had been Dolly Dean, she would have humorously referred to herself as “Double D” again.
At the grand BMI Awards dinner in 1966, Parton attended with her husband, as both she and Owens were recognized in the country category for their songwriting work on “Put It Off Until Tomorrow.
Later on, Dean took off his tuxedo without them even reaching the car. As quoted in her book, Parton wrote, “‘I’m proud of you,’ he said. ‘Go ahead and do what makes you happy. However, I won’t ever ask to attend another one of those events again because I just won’t go.’ And he hasn’t.
She’s received her first BMI Award among the 48 she has won so far, adding to the 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 was always waiting for Parton at home.
In an interview with People in 2018, the star from 9 to 5 humorously responded about the secret to her long marriage and enduring love by joking, “I usually say ‘Stay away!’ There’s a lot of truth to that. I travel extensively, but we truly cherish each other when we’re together, finding joy in even the smallest moments.
On one of their first dinner outings, they opted for a meal from the McDonald’s drive-thru, with Dean behind the wheel of his Chevy, as Parton later reminisced. Throughout their relationship, their culinary preferences didn’t veer much towards extravagance, despite Forbes estimating Parton’s net worth to be around $440 million in 2023. They frequently visited local eateries and embarked on road trips, with Ringgold – where they got married – being one of their frequent stops.
In 2014, Dolly Parton expressed to Billboard, “I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with my husband in our small RV. Even after long journeys on the road covering thousands of miles, I often say, ‘Bring on the camper, let’s hit the road again.’ He might respond, ‘Don’t you want a break? Aren’t you tired?’ But I reply, ‘I’m a nomad. That’s what I love to do.’ My life is quite straightforward when I’m away from the spotlight.
Though if you wanted to catch her and Dean at Publix or Walmart, you had to stay up late.
In 2019, during the celebration of her Netflix series “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings” premiere, Parton shared with reporters that she often visited places open all night. She expressed surprise at how fortunate she seemed to be in these hours, encountering only a few people. Despite this, she was not bothered—she enjoys being around people—but she didn’t want her shopping to be delayed.
As someone who closely follows Dolly Parton, I must admit that the scarcity of public photos featuring her and her partner may have sparked speculation among fans over the years. However, she clarified this in her 2020 book by stating that such assumptions were unfounded – “Many people think my husband doesn’t exist or that he was fabricated by me.” Despite these rumors, I’ve been fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of some vintage photos shared by the singer herself.
And she playfully featured her partner on the cover of her 1969 album “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy,” a combined photograph capturing Parton lost in thought about her woodsman counterpart, dressed in a flannel shirt.
However, Parton understood Dean’s discomfort with the limelight, and thus, she made every effort to keep him away from it whenever feasible.
She shared with ET back in 2020 that he is someone who tends to be introverted and reserved. She added that if he were to step into the limelight, as she suggested he would never have a moment’s rest, and indeed, this has proven to be true.
On the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, they renewed their vows at home. It was then that Dolly Parton got to don the stunning wedding gown she had always desired. Additionally, she wrote a song to complement their vows titled “Forever Love.” This tune was one among several tracks on her 2016 album Pure and Simple, which were inspired by her own enduring love story with Dean.
She shared with Rolling Stone that she donned an exquisite gown for their second wedding day. Her husband was dapper as any leading man from Hollywood, she added. A small gathering of family and friends joined them to celebrate. They opted against a grand affair, preferring to avoid stress or tension. Instead, they held a modest ceremony at their own chapel, enjoying the festivities without any unnecessary strain.
Additionally, during the conversation about her marital success, Parton was asked about the nature of her and Dean’s relationship being just the two of them.
Previously, I believed I ought to feel remorseful about not having children,” I shared with Billboard. “Initially, when my spouse and I were courting, and later when we got married, we assumed we would become parents naturally. We didn’t take any measures to prevent it; in fact, we thought we might. We even had names picked out if we did, but fate had other plans. Now, I see it as a blessing that God intended me not to have children, so everyone else’s kids can be like my own.
As a devoted follower, I’d express it this way: I revealed to The Guardian that, should fortune have granted us a daughter, we would have affectionately called her Carla. My partner Dean and I often pondered the unique traits our children might have possessed.
Dolly Parton expressed her belief that she would have excelled as a mother, stating, “I most likely would have sacrificed everything else for my children to avoid feeling guilty about leaving them behind for work. My life might have taken a completely different path, and I may not have become the star I am today.
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 extremely important to her, as five of her younger siblings resided with her and her partner for a considerable amount of time. Additionally, she mentioned that they have a strong bond with their nieces and nephews. As Carl and she grow older, they often remark, “Aren’t we grateful we didn’t have children? Now we don’t have the responsibility of raising kids.
Which also left more time to focus on each other.
In the springtime, when the first daffodils bloom, I still cherish those moments, as shared with me by my spouse. Even if there’s a lingering snowfall, he’ll always gather a bouquet for me and often pens a heartfelt poem. To me, these gestures are invaluable – they transform each moment into a special date of its own. (Said to People magazine in 2020)
They found their greatest joy in simply living life, whether it meant enjoying a cozy dinner at home by candlelight or traveling to stay at a Days Inn, as long as the room was clean and had a bathroom – it didn’t matter where they were, they were content doing what made them happy.
Although Dean hadn’t attended events like the Grammys or Oscars, Parton almost always wore makeup, even sleeping with it on (her mascara was unbeatable), and she enjoyed getting dressed up without needing a special occasion, he frequently witnessed his wife in her elegant style.
She explained that he assumes she’ll always be well-prepared for him since she doesn’t approve of laziness at home. However, generally speaking, “He doesn’t pay attention to what I choose to wear, as long as I’m content. He appreciates me just the way I am.
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2025-03-04 05:17