Dolly Parton Admits Her' Affair Of The Heart' Nearly 'Killed Her'

Apr 07, 2022 by apost team

Dolly Parton is an icon who has been in the spotlight for decades as one of the best female country singers and musicians of all time. Known for her vibrant, bubbly personality, unique vocal tone, and beautiful songwriting skills, Parton has gone on to become a legend in the entertainment industry. Even more beautiful than her voice and lyricism is the fact that Parton uses her platform for the betterment of others through donations and charity work.

Her humble beginnings could be one of the reasons for her kind heart. The "Jolene" singer grew up as one of 12 children in a poor Tennessee family, and her journey to stardom is one that draws an outpouring of love and admiration. Parton's musical talents became known early on, and before long, she began writing her own songs. After graduating high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to become a star. Incidentally, not only did she kick off what would be a legendary career that year, but she also met the love of her life – her future husband, Carl Dean.

The couple has been happily married for more than five decades, but Dean tends to stay out of the spotlight, allowing Parton to truly shine. The singer has shared a few rare photos of her husband here and there but opened up about what led her to make the decision to keep her love life so private. 

Parton also opened up about her struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts in the 1980s. Keep reading to find out more about Parton's struggles and why she says her dog saved her life.

Speaking with "American Idol" alum Gabby Barret on Amazon Music, Parton said that marriage is a business. "You got to make the right decisions for all the little things that come up," she said. "We've never bickered back and forth because I never wanted us to say bad things that we would have to remember."

Parton and Dean have managed to keep their relationship lasting for so long and stay strong by giving each other space. She even joked that her marriage has probably worked out so well since she's gone working so much, according to Showbiz CheatSheet. Parton explained that her husband is a "loner and a homebody," while she is more of an extrovert and someone who enjoys traveling a lot. However, the singer actually likes that she and Dean have separate interests, as it gives them a lot to talk about.

During an interview with Rolling Stone in 2003, Parton said that Dean was upfront about this at the beginning of their relationship, as he explained that he wanted to live a private life despite her rising fame. While Dean was clear that he loved and still loves Parton and wants to support her, he just isn't comfortable with attending public events.

Even though the couple may not flaunt their love for each other in front of others at public gatherings, that doesn't mean that they still don't have strong feelings for each other and want to share those feelings from time to time. Celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary in November 2021, Parton uploaded a beautiful, rare photograph of her and Dean to Instagram. In the caption, she wrote, "Find a partner who will support you like my Carl Dean does!"

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Closer Weekly reports that Parton revealed her struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts in her book "Dolly on Dolly, Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton." She said that in the 1980s, she had an "affair of the heart, and it "just about killed (her)." This was also around the time Parton received a partial hysterectomy to treat her endometriosis. The surgery meant that Parton would never be able to give birth to her own children.

The legendary country singer shared: "I was sitting upstairs in my bedroom one afternoon when I noticed in the nightstand drawer my gun that I keep for burglars. I looked at it for a long time. Then, just as I picked it up, just to hold it and look at it for a moment, our little dog, Popeye, came running up the stairs."

Parton continued, "The tap-tap-tap of his paws jolted me back to reality. I suddenly froze. I put the gun down. Then I prayed. I kinda believe Popeye was a spiritual messenger from God. I don't think I'd have done it, killed myself, but I can't say for sure. Now that I've gone through that terrible moment, I can certainly understand the possibilities even for someone solid like me if the pain gets bad enough."

Now that her mental health struggles are behind her, Parton and Dean don't talk about the emotional affair or any other infidelities. "I don't get jealous. It never crosses my mind. And if 

(Carl) does something, I never want to know," she said. "There's no way in heaven's name that I could ever leave Carl."

Are you a fan of Dolly Parton? Did you know she has been married for over 50 years? Let us know, and feel free to send this along to your friends and family.