Music icon gets emotional during interview about life without her beloved husband
Dolly Parton, the legendary country singer and philanthropist, shared her emotional journey of grieving the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, in a heartfelt interview on the Today show. Speaking from Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on May 2, Parton reflected on the profound impact of her husband’s death two months after his passing on March 3. The 79-year-old star, known for her unwavering strength and positivity, appeared visibly moved while discussing the challenges of adjusting to life without Dean, who had been her partner for 60 years.
“It’s a big adjustment just trying to change patterns and habits,” Parton told Today host Savannah Guthrie. “I’ll do fine, and 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 always love him. He was a great partner to me.”
Parton, who first met Dean when she was 18, described their decades-long relationship as a deep and lasting bond. “Oh, you know what, I get very emotional when people bring it up,” she admitted. “But we were together 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old.”
Despite the emotional toll of losing her husband, Parton emphasized how the outpouring of love from fans has been a source of comfort. “I’m so thankful. I’ve gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world,” she shared, laughing through her tears. “I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous.”
Dean, who was famously private, kept his life largely out of the public eye while supporting his wife’s monumental career behind the scenes. His low-profile lifestyle became part of the couple’s charm, with Parton often noting how their marriage remained a quiet, personal haven amidst her international stardom.
In addition to speaking about her grief, Parton also reflected on a heartwarming moment from a recent Dollywood parade, where a young fan’s joy moved her to tears. “I remember him in the parade. I was thinking, ‘Honey, are you gonna have a heart attack right here in front of everybody?’” she recalled, describing the boy’s exuberance. “It was the sweetest thing. I just wanted to get off of that cart and run down and just squeeze him. It was just great.”
However, the parade also brought up intense emotions for the singer, still mourning the loss of her husband. “I got very emotional that day after the parade because there was just so much love like that,” Parton admitted. “Right after I had lost Carl and I was just so bottled up with emotion, I got in the van and just boo-hooed for the longest time, just feeling all that love and emotion.”
In the wake of Dean’s passing, Parton has continued to honor their shared life and love. She dedicated her new song, “If You Hadn’t Been There,” to him, and has frequently posted tributes on social media. In one Instagram post from March, Parton wrote, “I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story.”
Though she still grieves, Parton remains resilient. Speaking to Knox News in late March, she reflected on her emotional recovery, saying, “I’m doing better than I thought I would. 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.”
Dolly Parton’s tribute to Carl Dean serves as a testament to their enduring love, as well as her strength in navigating life’s most difficult moments with grace.