Dolly Parton Gave Rare Insight Into Her Marriage To ‘Quiet’ Husband Carl Only Months Before His Passing

Mar 05, 2025 by apost team

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In a heartfelt announcement on Mar. 3, 2025, country music legend Dolly Parton shared the devastating news of her husband, Carl Thomas Dean’s passing at the age of 82. The couple’s enduring marriage, which spanned nearly six decades, was a testament to their unwavering love and mutual respect. Despite Dean being a private person, their love was one of the longest-lasting marriages in Hollywood. 

After announcing the passing of her husband, the country legend went on to say a few words about the love between her and Dean, writing:

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

Although he kept away from the public eye, he is known for inspiring her hit song, “Jolene,” based on the story of a woman that Parton said had “a terrible crush” on her husband. Parton has spoken about the origin of the famous song and how it began as a running joke between her and her husband. She said:

“And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us – when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”

Parton and Dean’s love story began in 1964 in Nashville, Tennessee, when the then 18-year-old Parton had just moved to the city to pursue her musical dreams. They crossed paths at the Wishy Washy Laundromat. Recalling their first meeting, Parton said:

“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”

This encounter led to a deep connection, culminating in their marriage on May 30, 1966, in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia. Parton has previously credited the longevity and strength of their marriage to his aversion to the limelight and Hollywood to focus on his asphalt-paving company. Speaking on a podcast, the “I Will Always Love You” singer said:

“I’ve always respected and appreciated that in him and I’ve always tried to keep him out of the limelight as much as I can. He said, ‘I didn’t choose this world, I chose you, and you chose that world. But we can keep our lives separate and together.’ And we do and we have. We’ve been together 56 years, married 54.”

Besides his loving wife, Dean is also survived by his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie. Parton and Dean had no children together, and the singer touched on this, saying she owed her great career to her freedom to travel and perform because of this decision. 

“God has a plan for everything. I think it probably was His plan for me not to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine. And they are now,” she said. 

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The “9 to 5” singer gave fans a glimpse into her nearly six-decade-long marriage while protecting her late husband’s privacy. A few months before his passing, Parton appeared on the “Dumb Blonde” podcast hosted by Bunnie XO, where she shared the secret to her long-lasting marriage. She credited the longevity of their union to mutual love and respect, as well as their different personalities. 

“He’s quiet and I’m loud, and we’re funny,” Parton said on the podcast. “Oh, he’s hilarious. 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.”

She went on to discuss how the way they handled disagreements positively impacted their marriage. 

“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,” Parton said. “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.’”

Parton’s love for her husband was evident as she revealed that her “last perfect day” was one she’d spent with him.

“On my last perfect day, well, I had a day off and I got to spend that whole day with my husband. I’ve worked so much that we don't often have all the long, full days that we used to have when life was not as complicated," Parton told PEOPLE. “Anytime I have some time off, that's always a good day for me and for him, for us to have time off.”

What are your thoughts on this? What lessons can you take from Dolly Parton’s long-lasting marriage to her late husband? Let us know, and then pass this on to friends and family who love the country music icon!