When you think of Dolly Parton, you picture rhinestones, big hair, a bigger voice, and an even bigger heart. But behind that million-watt smile is a woman navigating heartbreak — and doing it with the same grace, grit, and honesty that made her a legend in the first place.
Just two weeks after the death of her husband of nearly six decades, Carl Thomas Dean, Dolly is back in front of the spotlight — not to perform, not to promote, but to simply connect. In a candid interview with “Knox News”, the 79-year-old icon shared how she’s holding up after losing her “sweetheart,” who passed away at 82 on March 3.
“I’m doing better than I thought I would,” she said quietly. “I’ve been with him 60 years.”
Let that sit for a moment — six decades of quiet, unwavering love with a man who mostly stayed out of the limelight. Carl Dean, a former asphalt road-paver and the most famously reclusive husband in showbiz, was rarely seen but deeply loved. And he didn’t just support Dolly from the sidelines — he was “her” backstage pass to a normal life.
But the final chapter wasn’t easy. “He suffered a great deal,” she admitted. “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.”
In true Dolly fashion, she’s finding a way to heal — through laughter, through stories, and through funnel cake. Yes, Carl was a fan of Dollywood and used to sneak into the park like any regular guest, ticket in hand, just to enjoy the vibe (and, apparently, point out where they needed more bathrooms). “He didn’t want somebody giving him a ticket because he was Dolly’s husband,” she laughed. That humility? Classic Carl.
Dolly made her first public appearance since his passing during the 40th anniversary celebration of Dollywood — a place she and Carl helped build, in spirit and in bricks.
And she’s not stopping. Her Broadway-bound “Dolly: An Original Musical” is full steam ahead this summer in Nashville, and she even released a touching tribute song to Carl just days after his passing: “If You Hadn’t Been There”. Because for Dolly, music is the language of love — and healing.
Still, the pain is raw. “I need to laugh. I need some fun, so I’m probably gonna be stupid,” she confessed with a smile that tried to hold back tears. And that’s Dolly — heartbreak and humor in perfect harmony.
From their humble laundromat meet-cute in 1964 to candlelit picnics in Days Inn motels, their love story was nothing short of poetic. Private, powerful, and deeply personal. And as Dolly herself once said, “He’ll always be with me.” And in the quiet strength she’s showing now? He already is.
