Dolly Parton is navigating life following the death of her beloved husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82. The couple, who were married for nearly 60 years, shared many cherished moments together, and Parton has opened up about her grief and the fond memories they created during their time together.
In a recent interview with Knox News, the 79-year-old country music legend reflected on the bond she shared with Dean, saying, “I’m doing better than I thought I would. I’ve been with him 60 years.” Although Parton acknowledges her heartache, she finds solace in the thought that he is at peace, noting, “I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him. 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.”
Parton made her first public appearance since Dean's passing at the 40th season celebration of Dollywood on March 14, 2025. Dollywood, the theme park she co-founded in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with Herschend Family Entertainment in 1986, has always held a special place in their lives. During her appearance, she shared anecdotes about Dean's visits to the park, revealing that he enjoyed going there without her. “He stood in line and got his ticket. He didn't want somebody giving him a ticket because he was Dolly’s husband,” Parton recalled. This aspect of Dean's character endeared him even more to those who knew him.
Parton humorously recounted her husband’s knack for providing constructive feedback about the park, stating, “He would say, ‘You need more bathrooms,’ or ‘You need to tell them this or that. It’s crowded over in that area. You might want to tell them they ought to do this or that.’” She insisted that he intended no criticism, only genuine suggestions, showing how much he loved the place they built together. “He wasn’t coming to criticize, but he would notice things and he would say, you might want to bring this to their attention,” she explained.
The couple met in 1964 in a laundromat on the day after Parton moved to Nashville from Sevierville to kickstart her music career. Their bond has only grown stronger over the decades. They renewed their wedding vows in 2016, celebrating 50 years together. Reflecting on their romantic traditions, Parton described small moments together as priceless memories. “We still have our little times, like in the springtime when the first yellow daffodils come out. Even if there’s still some snow around it, my husband always brings me a bouquet,” she recalled.
Parton also shared lighthearted memories of their evenings. “I’ll cook the stuff that I know we love. And I pack it up in a picnic basket. And then we’ll go find some riverbank somewhere with our little camper, park, have a picnic,” she said, cherishing those intimate moments. “Or I’ll do a candlelight dinner. We don’t make an issue of it. It’s like certain days, you feel a certain way. And I’ll say, ‘I’m going to surprise him. And we’re going to have real cloth napkins and real crystal.’”
Three days after Dean's passing, Parton released a poignant song titled “If You Hadn’t Been There” dedicated to him, further illustrating the depth of her love and loss. “I need to laugh. I need some fun, so I’m probably gonna be stupid,” she humorously remarked, showing her resilience and desire to celebrate life even amid sorrow.
Looking to the future, Parton is eagerly anticipating the July debut of her Broadway-bound musical, Dolly: An Original Musical, which she co-wrote and produced. The musical, which begins previews on July 18 for a limited engagement at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, has her very own creative touch—she has composed original songs and included many of her fan favorites as well. Her impressive career includes over 100 million records sold, and she continues to break records in the music industry, holding ten Guinness World Records and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Despite her deep loss, Dolly Parton’s spirit shines through as she continues to create, share her love for her late husband, and embrace the joy of living—showing the world that love endures even in the face of grief.
