Dolly Parton reflected on loss of husband Carl’s death 17 months ago
Dolly Parton reflected on the loss of her husband, Carl Thomas Dean, months after his death at 82 in March 2025, describing their nearly six-decade relationship as “a great old love story.”
Parton and Dean first met at a Nashville laundromat in 1964, when she was 18.
They married two years later and remained together for nearly 59 years, with Dean largely staying out of the public eye and spending much of his time on their farm.
In a November 2025 PEOPLE cover story, Parton opened up about the impact of losing her longtime partner and the bond they shared.
“Ours is a great old love story. Most people don’t stay that close that long. That’s a loss,” she said. “Nobody can ever know that unless you’ve experienced it yourself. He will always be in my heart and in my memories.”
Parton also credited Dean with being a steady presence throughout her life, saying, “without Carl, I wouldn’t be here.”
The singer previously described Dean as a private and independent person who preferred life away from the spotlight. “He was very independent, and he liked being alone. He didn’t really care about being with anybody but me,” she said.
“He had a few friends, but he loved being on the farm and doing his thing. He was kind of a loner, which worked out best for us.”
Despite their contrasting public profiles, Parton said their relationship endured for decades, with Dean remaining an important part of her life and memories following his death.
