Dolly Parton Gets Candid On Grief After Carl Dean’s Death

Dolly Parton is opening up about the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, just two weeks after his passing, sharing that while she misses him dearly, she has found a sense of peace.

The iconic singer shared the news of Dean's passing on March 3, stating that he passed away in Nashville at the age of 82 and would be laid to rest in a private ceremony.

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean were married for nearly six decades, from 1966 until his passing, but never had children.

Dolly Parton is embracing a new chapter of life after the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, reflecting on their 60 years together and the adjustments she now faces.

“I’m doing better than I thought I would,” the country music legend told Knox News during the 40th opening ceremony of Dollywood, her beloved theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Parton admitted that after spending six decades with Dean, adjusting to life without him will be a challenge. “I’ve been with him 60 years. So, I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close,” she shared.

Despite her grief, the "Jolene" singer explained that she is “at peace that he’s at peace,” though that doesn’t mean she isn’t struggling with the loss. “It’s a hole in my heart, you know, but we’ll fill that up with good stuff and he’ll still always be with me,” she added.

While she didn’t specify any ailments, Parton revealed that Dean had “suffered a great deal” before his passing on March 3 at the age of 82.

During the interview, Parton also reflected on one of Dean’s more private traditions, secretly visiting Dollywood by himself.

“He used to come to the park; he bought his own ticket, stood in line and got his ticket,” she recalled with a laugh. “He didn’t want somebody giving him a ticket ‘cause he was Dolly’s husband. Everybody thinks that’s the funniest thing.”

The theme park’s 40th opening ceremony marked Parton’s first public appearance since Dean’s passing. As she made her way through Dollywood in a pink carriage, fans showered her with flowers and sympathy cards.

Speaking briefly to the crowd, Parton acknowledged the deep love she had for her late husband.

“I will always love him, and I miss him,” she told attendees. “You know how I loved him, and he would want me to be working today. I expect to be working.”

Despite the emotions of the day, the "9 to 5" singer shared that she wanted to use the occasion to lift her spirits. “I’ve been crying enough the last week or two,” she admitted. “So I needed to come here to laugh and have some fun.”

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean shared an enduring, private love story that spanned nearly six decades before Dean’s passing. Unlike many celebrity couples, the two rarely appeared in public together, with most images of them coming from Parton’s personal collection.

Parton, who married Dean in a small ceremony when she was just 20 years old, often described her husband as “completely different” from her, emphasizing that he was “not in show business.”

Their love story began in an unlikely place, a Nashville laundromat when Parton was 18. While Parton’s career took her to dazzling heights in country music, the couple maintained a quiet life away from the spotlight, cherishing simple pleasures like sightseeing road trips through Tennessee and Kentucky.

Despite not having children, Parton found immense fulfillment in her marriage. In 2016, after 50 years together, she and Dean celebrated their milestone anniversary with a private vow renewal ceremony at their Nashville home.

Shortly after Dean’s passing, Parton honored him in the way she knows best, through music. On March 7, she released "If You Hadn’t Been There," a heartfelt song dedicated to her late husband.

“I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old,” she wrote on social media. “We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him.”

Parton and Dean were famously private about their relationship after tying the knot in 1966. Though he often stayed out of the public eye, their love remained strong for nearly six decades.

As she moves forward, Parton remains focused on celebrating Dean’s life, her music, and continuing the work that he would have wanted her to do.