Dolly Parton is an icon who has been in the spotlight for decades as one of the greatest female country singers and musicians ever. 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 reason for her kind heart. The “Jolene” singer grew up as one of 12 children in a poor family in Tennessee, and her journey to stardom has drawn an outpouring of love and admiration.
Parton’s musical talents bec ame known early on, and before long, she began writing her own songs. After graduating from high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to become a star. Coincidentally, 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.
According to a post shared on her official website to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, Parton and Dean tied the knot on May 30, 1966. The couple, along with the country musician’s mother, went to Ringgold, Georgia, where they had a small ceremony.
They went on to have a very happy romance for the next few decades, but they never had any children. As of 2024, Parton and Dean have been married for 58 years.
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean married in 1966 after meeting at a laundromat when he was 21 and she was just 18. Although they have been married for a long time, the musician keeps her romance with her husband completely private, with Dean almost never seen at public events or talking to the press.
As reported by The Independent, in a 2022 episode of “The Kelleigh Bannen Show,” Parton shared her thoughts about keeping her relationship away from the public eye. She noted that early on in her career, her mom told her that she should “always keep something back for you,” and she shouldn’t “give it all away.” The wise words of her mother stuck with her, and she applied them in her married life.
“I’ve known how to keep my husband private… It’s just natural to me to protect the things and the people I love and to protect my own privacy,” she said.
Many people would think the couple is a great example of a loving marriage, and Parton finally revealed the secret to a long romance in an interview with E! News program Daily Pop in 2022. It included dressing her best for her husband.
“I like to dress up for Carl… Every day, I put on some makeup and fix my hair because I think, ‘Well, the whole world, I’m out here and everybody else sees me all dressed up, and I’m not going to just kind of go home and just flop on him,’” she said, as reported by The Independent.
She added that it’s important to look as good as she can because, for her, it “kind of helps keep things spicy.”
Parton is one of country music’s most iconic stars and the face of a $650 million empire, which includes her theme park Dollywood. One might assume Parton is constantly on the road, but she revealed in an interview that she prefers to stay at home to be closer to her husband.
“I don’t tour anymore… I’ve got so many business things I’m doing. And my husband and I are getting older — he’s a little older than I am — and I kind of need to be with him,” Parton said, as reported by Marie Claire.
With Parton being such an industry presence, it’s remarkable to see her husband of almost 60 years keep such a low profile. Parton said this had been their agreement from the very beginning.
“I’ve kept (my marriage) very personal and sacred and I try to keep my husband out of the business. That’s not what he chose to do, he just happened to love me and I love him enough to not expose him to it,” she told Fox News.
His absence had even led some parties to believe that he was entirely made up, which Parton appeared to understand.
“A lot of people have thought that through the years, because he does not want to be in the spotlight at all. It’s just not who he is. He’s like a quiet, reserved person and he figured if he ever got out there in that, he’d never get a minute’s peace and he’s right about that,” Parton told ET, adding she always “tried to keep him out of the limelight” as he “didn’t choose this world.”
Alongside their similar tastes and disdain for parties, Parton also cited her absence due to work as a possible factor in keeping their marriage strong, saying “we’re not in each other’s faces all the time.”
On Valentine’s Day 2022 though, Parton gave fans a glimpse of her elusive husband by sharing a photo of him kissing her cheek on social media. Prior to that, she had also posted a photo of them in their younger days, with Dean towering above her petite frame.
“Find you a partner who will support you like my Carl Dean does!” she captioned the photo.
These days, Dean is likely to be pottering about his and Parton’s sprawling farm in Brentwood, Tennessee, after retiring from his paving firm.
“Listen, he’s a homebody and doesn’t like to go out in public. We have a farm and he’s more than happy keeping the fields mowed, the barns painted and working away on his farm equipment,” Parton explained.
She said they often spend time doing “our little things together,” which include traveling in their RV.
“We drive through these little drive-through restaurants. We sightsee all of Tennessee and Kentucky, the areas that we can get back home from at night. Sometimes we’ll stay over at a Days Inn (motel) where we can just pull up and sneak me in. We don’t care, as long as the bed’s clean and there’s a bathroom,” she divulged.
While Parton and Dean’s love story may not be the most conventional, it has lasted the test of time, which Parton attributes to the simple fact that “he loves me and I love him.”
“He understands me, he gets me. He’s very secure within himself. He’s never been jealous. It’s a great compliment to me,” she added.
Describing him as her “best friend,” Parton also said that she “married a really good man.”
“He’s not resentful of any of that. He loves to hear about the things I do. I love to hear about the things he does. So we enjoy each other’s company. We get along good.”