Dolly Parton met her husband, Carl Dean, on her first day in Nashville. It was 1964, and she had just arrived in the city to pursue her dream of becoming a music star.
Dolly Parton circa 1976. | Source: Getty Images
Staying with her Uncle Bill, she found herself at the Wishy-Washy laundromat, eager to wash the clothes she had brought from home. As she wandered down the street, a young man called out to her.
She waved politely, as was customary for the small-town girl from Tennessee. That man was Dean, and that chance encounter would change their lives.
Dolly Parton circa 1978. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the instant spark, Parton was cautious about going out with him right away, adhering to the lessons instilled in her upbringing. “I mean, that was somethin’ we was taught. You gotta know somebody or they may take you on a back road and kill you,” the singer revealed.
Instead, she invited him to visit her uncle’s house while she babysat her nephew. Dean came over every day that week, sitting with her on the porch and building a connection.
“I wouldn’t even take him in the house,” the iconic blonde admitted. Finally, when her aunt had a day off, Parton agreed to go out with him. Their first outing was as meaningful as their first meeting — Dean drove her straight to his parents’ house to introduce her to his family.
“[…] He said he knew right the minute he saw me that that’s the one he wanted,” Parton recalled. The couple dated for two years before tying the knot in 1966.
Parton was just 20, and Dean was 23. At the time, she was a rising talent on “The Porter Wagoner Show,” a gig that laid the foundation for her legendary solo career. As her fame grew, Dean supported her every step of the way, even as he chose to avoid the limelight himself.
Parton’s career quickly skyrocketed as she established herself as one of the greatest talents in country music. Songs like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” cemented her as a star, while her sparkling personality made her a beloved cultural figure.
Over the decades, she expanded her influence beyond music, becoming an accomplished actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman. Yet, while her name became synonymous with glamour and success, her husband preferred to remain in the background.
Dean has famously avoided public events with Parton, a choice he made early in their marriage. “He’s never liked going out to dinner and all that stuff. And although I love to go out with friends to a nice dinner and have fun, it just felt natural to me to keep my life private,” the singer admitted.
Parton recalled a memorable moment from their first year as husband and wife when she begged him to attend an awards ceremony with her. Though he reluctantly agreed, the night was anything but enjoyable for him.
“Oh, he was so uncomfortable — the whole night!” Parton humorously shared. Immediately they returned home, Dean declared that while he would always support her wildest dreams, he would not be attending public events again.
“My husband is a loner. He doesn’t particularly care about being around anybody but me. He’s just always asked me to leave him out of all this. He does not like all the hullabaloo,” the singer explained.
Despite his privacy preference, Dean has always been deeply supportive of Parton’s aspirations. She often speaks of his sense of humor and their strong bond.
The country star remarked, “He’s like a brother and a father and a friend and a husband and a lover – all of those things to me. I think he’s kind of proud that we’ve been in it this long!”
Dean’s low profile has even become a subject of intrigue among fellow celebrities. During a 2023 interview, Reba McEntire joked with Andy Cohen that Parton had done an exceptional job keeping her husband a “secret” for all these years.
But while Dean avoids the spotlight, his influence on Parton’s life and work is undeniable. He was the inspiration behind her 2023 rock album, “Rockstar.” Parton, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, shared that her husband’s love for rock music motivated her to explore the genre.
Dolly Parton at her album press conference on June 29, 2023, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
“From the time I met him in 1964 — he just had rock and roll blasting. That’s his music,” she explained. The album features nine original tracks and 21 covers of iconic rock songs, many of which Dean adored.
“Most of these songs I chose because of Carl, and because I knew they were good songs, ’cause he knows good music. He does,” Parton said.
The success of their 57-year marriage can be attributed to a unique dynamic that works perfectly for the couple. One of their secrets is honesty and mutual respect. “We both have a great sense of humor like this and we both just have fun being together,” Parton said.
She credits their differences for keeping their relationship interesting. “Our tastes are different in things but that works great because we have — it gives us stuff to talk about. But we have our things that are perfect together, and that’s been the strength of it. And we love each other, [sic]” she shared.
Dolly Parton performing during Blockchain Creative Labs’ Dollyverse event at the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festivals on March 18 in Austin, Texas. | Source: Getty Images
Another key to their longevity is the time they spend apart. Parton believes that absence makes the heart grow fonder and helps them avoid unnecessary tension.
“I’m just saying, anything new gets old,” she remarked. “And I think if you just kind of stay together so much, you just nitpick every little thing and notice all that.”
“It’s worked for us because we both do different things and it’s exciting when we are together. So the fact that there’s some little space that makes it exciting when you go home,” Parton added.
When the “Jolene” singer isn’t on stage or in the public eye, their life is refreshingly ordinary. The couple lives in a house near Nashville that Parton had built over 30 years ago.
Designed like Tara from “Gone with the Wind,” the home reflects Parton’s dreams of Southern opulence. Whether it’s inspiring a rock album or sharing simple moments at home, Dean has always been Parton’s biggest supporter — even if he prefers to do so from behind the scenes.
A rare photograph of Carl taken in 1996. | Source: Getty Images
As Parton herself put it, “I married a really good man, a guy that’s completely different from me. He’s not in show business. He’s not resentful of any of that. He loves to hear about the things I do.”
She added, “I love to hear about the things he does. So we enjoy each other’s company. We get along good. He’s got a great sense of humor. We’ve just been best buddies and best friends […].”
Dolly Parton and her husband’s love story is a testament to the power of individuality and mutual support. While they live vastly different lives, their bond remains unshakable.
