Dolly Parton has opened up about the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, who passed away earlier this month. In an interview with Knox News published on March 17, the country music icon shared that Dean had endured significant suffering before his death.
Despite the profound loss, Parton, 79, stated that she was coping better than expected. Having spent six decades with Dean, she acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to life without him but expressed determination to keep his memory alive. While she found solace in knowing he was at peace, she admitted that it did not ease the pain of his absence.
Parton and Dean first met outside a Nashville laundromat in 1964 and married two years later. Although he largely stayed out of the public eye, Parton recalled that he often visited Dollywood, her theme park, preferring to buy his own ticket rather than receive special treatment.
On March 14, the singer made her first public appearance since Dean’s passing, welcoming season pass holders to Dollywood for its 40th season. Addressing fans, she paid tribute to her late husband and expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support she had received. She acknowledged the emotional weight of the past two weeks but emphasized her commitment to continue working, believing that was what Dean would have wanted.
Days later, on March 20, Parton returned to the red carpet for the Nashville premiere of Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony. While still grieving, she expressed the need for laughter and joy, stating that she had shed enough tears in recent weeks.
