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Dolly Parton is opening up about how she’s coping with the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, after 60 years together. The legendary singer shared the heartbreaking news on March 4, confirming that Dean had passed away the day before.
Despite her grief, Parton recently made a surprise appearance at the 40th opening ceremony of Dollywood, where she spoke to Knox News about how she’s holding up. “I’m doing better than I thought I would,” she admitted. “I’ve been with him 60 years. So, I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close.”
The 79-year-old explained that while she finds comfort in knowing that Dean is no longer suffering, she still deeply misses him. “I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him.”
Parton also shared a touching and humorous anecdote about her late husband, revealing that despite being married to one of the most famous singers in the world, Dean always insisted on buying his own ticket whenever he visited Dollywood. “He used to come to the park; he bought his own ticket, stood in line, and got his ticket. He didn’t want somebody giving him a ticket ‘cause he was Dolly’s husband. Everybody thinks that’s the funniest thing.”
The couple’s love story began in 1964 when Parton was just 18 years old. Two years later, they secretly tied the knot, and their bond remained strong for six decades. Reflecting on his passing, Parton acknowledged the profound loss she feels. “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.”