Dolly Parton It has been a staple in the music industry for nearly 60 years since taking a big break in the 1960s. Her career has become a country icon with numerous hits, including songs such as “Jolene” and “9 vs. 5”, and she continues to be a highly influential singer to this day. As long as she made music, she was married to a retired businessman. Carl Thomas Dean. The two married in 1966, and their marriage continued until Carl’s death in March 2025.
She reminisced their time together on May 2, 2025 and interviewed today“Oh, you know what, when people raise it, I get very emotional.” She added, “But we were 60. I’ve loved him since I was 18.”
Find out more about Dolly’s husband Carl Dean and what they said about their relationship.
Do Dolly Parton and Carl Dean have children?
Dolly and Carl have no children, but with nearly 60 years of marriage, it surpassed their hearts. Dolly revealed that she “dreaming” to have a child, but in a 2014 interview, it wasn’t “intended.” Guardian. “My husband and I, if we had children when we first got married, what would they look like? Will they be taller? Will he be taller? “I think I was a great mother. I probably would have given up on everything else. I felt guilty about it, so if I had left them (on work, on tour), everything would have changed. I probably wouldn’t be a star.”
Dolly recently admitted in a 2023 interview that she never felt a pull to motherhood Saga is exceptional. “When you’re a young couple, you’ll have kids, but that wasn’t one of the things that burned to me. I had my career and my music and I was traveling,” she said. “If I had kids, I would have been home with them, so I am sure and worried about dying about them.
The willingness to work and success in a tough industry like country music is a major factor in why Dolly really doesn’t regret not having any children of her own. “I believe I know what you’re doing, but you have to sacrifice. I had no children, so I had a husband and I was pretty independent, so I had freedom. I think the majority of my success was the fact that I was free to work. Oprah Winfrey In a 2020 interview, Via today.
How did Dolly Parton and Carl Dean meet?
Dolly revealed that Carl called out to her in a 2014 interview while doing laundry Guardian. “I was walking down the street to the laundromat and he stopped me,” she said. “He said, ‘Hey, you’re going to get a tan here!” Well, he had to say something. ”
Why was Carl Dean so private?
Dolly is quickly recognized by everyone, but Carl has stayed out of the spotlight for much of his wife’s career. Dolly spoke about why her husband values his privacy in a 2020 interview et. “He seemed like a quiet and modest person, and whether he was out there in it, he couldn’t get a little peace and he thought he was right about it,” she explained, and she always said, “I haven’t got him in the spotlight.” “He said, ‘I did not choose this world, I chose you, and you chose that world. But we can keep our lives separate and together.’ And we have been married for 56 years. “Dolly joked that the pair was playfully saying that her busy schedule was part of why their relationship lasted so long.
The “Jolene” singer also revealed why Carl won’t join her on the red carpet What does Dolly do? wireless It aired in November 2023. “Carl never got into the spotlight. Life in the South. “He went with me to one thing to do with him this year’s BMI song (event) when we first got married. I’ve never asked him and he never did.”
Dolly Parton says Carl Dean supported her
Beyond having their lives work together between the bigger persona than Dolly and Carl’s desire for privacy, Dolly said the pair are doing well. When talking about his turbulent relationship with the late musician Porter Wagoner In an interview in 2021 w, Dolly revealed that her relationship with Carl is very different from her partnership with Porter. “My husband and I don’t argue,” she said. “But Porter and I did nothing but fight. It was a love-hate relationship.”
Dolly took her to Instagram in November 2021 to share a rarely seen photo of Carl, where she celebrated his help. The photo is an old photo of the pair, with Karl wearing a t-shirt with his wife’s face. “Find a partner who will support you as my Carl Dean does!” Dolly captioned the post.
Why didn’t Dolly Parton take the Carl Dean surname?
Many fans know Dolly by her maiden name, but she took the husband’s last name, but revealed that she will perform herself. “My passport is Dolly Parton Dean. I signed many of my contracted deans. I didn’t change my name (publicly) because I had already had a record deal. That made no sense. Guardian 2014. “At home, I’m Dolly Dean. But I’m Dolly Parton too. I’m Dolly Parton Dean. I’m myself… If I chose the name Dolly Dean… I’d become double D.”
Dolly also revealed that there have been long rumors that she was being cheated on by Carl, but she was never dishonest. In fact, Carl has enjoyed tabloid headlines for many years. She said he used a pet dog named Popeye to joke about rumors that she was involved. Burt Reynolds. “After something was written about his relationship with Burt Reynolds, Carl brought this picture of Popeye and he asked someone to put on makeup and said, ‘Here’s you and Bert’s baby,'” she said. Saga is exceptional. “He’s always dealing with these things on his cheeks and he’ll say, ‘Hell, I feel bad for someone who didn’t fall in love with her.’ ”
The cause of death of Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean
Dolly announced her husband had passed away in March 2025, and the cause of her death was not immediately revealed. However, according to TMZCarl had previously been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019.
