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Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, passed away in early March. They were together for 60 years, and although they always kept their relationship super private – there are only a handful of pictures of Carl out there – he loomed large in her music, having inspired songs like “Jolene”. After his death, Dolly released a beautiful, heartbreaking tribute song to him called, “If You Hadn’t Been There.” Well, Dolly was on the Today show last Friday to celebrate Dollywood’s 40th birthday. They did a really great piece on it. Midway through the interview, Savannah Guthrie brought up Carl and asked Dolly how she was doing. Dolly got very emotional and gave the best answer she could have.
Dolly Parton will always love her late husband, Carl Dean. On the May 2 episode of TODAY, Parton recalled what her life has been like since he died in March. When TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie asked her how she’s been holding up since his death, Parton said she still has a hard time talking about it.
“I get very emotional when people bring it up,” she said, tearing up.
“We were together 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old, and it’s a big adjustment just trying to change patterns and habits. I’ll do fine. I’m very involved in my work and that’s been the best thing that could happen to me. But I’ll always miss him, of course, and I’ll always love him,” she said.
Craig Melvin then showed Parton a viral video of a kid looking shocked to see the “Jolene” singer riding in a parade at Dollywood, the amusement park she owns. Parton, who laughed at the clip, said she was actually having a hard time that day because she was still dealing with Dean’s death.
“I got very emotional that day after the parade because there was just so much love like that,” she said of seeing the crowd cheer for her at the park.
“And it was right after I had lost Carl, and I was just so bottled up with emotion, and I just got in the van and just boo hoo’d for the longest time, just feeling all that love and emotion,” she said.
Parton and Dean were married for nearly 60 years. On March 3, Parton announced that her husband had died in a statement on Instagram. He was 82.
“He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie,” she wrote at the time.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years,” she wrote in the statement.
Oh, Dolly! That story about putting on a brave face at the parade but then breaking down and crying in the van afterward breaks my heart for her all over again. I watched the entire interview, and I got the impression that she was happy when the subject changed and would probably take another moment to grieve once she got off camera. My grandparents were married for 58 years before my grandpa died. For a very long time, my grandma had the hardest time getting used to her new normal, which also included changing habits and patterns. I know that this is one of those things that only time can lessen the pain of, but Dolly is such an awesome human being that has given so much to us that I wish we could wave a magic wand to give back to her.
The rest of the interview really highlights – as if we needed more evidence – how much of a badass Dolly is and always has been. When asked about what it took to get Dollywood open, she shared that her accountants and lawyers at the time advised her against it. Rather than take their advice, she opened the park anyway and got a whole new set of accountants and lawyers. Since we live within a reasonable half-day’s drive from it, my SIL has been trying to plan a family weekend trip to Dollywood for like two years now, but it just hasn’t worked out with everyone’s schedules. This is inspiring me to help her make it happen this year. Dolly also promised to come back to Today to promote the upcoming Broadway musical that’s being developed about her life. I’m very much looking forward to that, too.
Here’s Dolly’s full interview on Today:
Dollywood is always a good time. Don’t skip the water park.
Love her so much, what she built has fed and sustained an entire town, if not county, for decades.
Watched the old ‘9 to 5’ DVD that included commentary and interviews with the stars. Dabney Coleman said when they first showed up to shoot, Dolly had the whole script memorized. Wow!
I went to Dollywood for my 50th birthday.
It was a wonderful trip.
Rented an air bnb with a gorgeous mountain view.
just remember you are in the mountains, and Dollywood is hilly!!
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have a huge tourist industry built around Dollywood.
Lots of smaller attractions.
Really gave that area life and an economy.
But the great thing about the smaller attractions is that – on a small budget- you can take your family for a week vacation, spend a day or 2 at Dollywood and then have a TON more things to do with your kids. including the attractions/rides and some gorgeous vistas- you can also go horseback riding.
(spent my first 2 minutes on the horse praying i didn’t fall off and spend my 50th bday in the ER)
The Club That No One Wants to Belong To. My husband passed after 30+ years of orbiting the same worlds, then 16 years wonderfully, romantically together. I miss him every single day, he will always be The One. I don’t grieve him anymore, but I do spend time with him, and shed the occasional tear for various reasons. It’s been 10 years, the love and gratitude for the time together will never go away.
Dolly must have hole in her heart right now that you could drive a big ol truck through with room to spare. I wish her peace, and loving friends and family to hold her.
Sending lots of hugs and light your way; also became a member of The World’s Worst Club seven years ago after 24 years of being with my best friend.
Postscript: I knew hubby didn’t want me to be alone so I decided to date with one rule – be picky. Getting a second chance at love is a true gift- he’s sleeping next to me right now- and I’m pretty sure that my late husband had something to do with bringing us together.
Dolly is a treasure. We’re so lucky that her husband didn’t try to get in her way.