Country music icon Dolly Parton is showing remarkable resilience following the recent passing of her husband Carl Dean. In her first interview since his death on March 3, the 79-year-old singer shared intimate details about her healing journey and cherished memories of their 57-year marriage.
Speaking to Knox News, Parton revealed she's managing better than anticipated after losing her longtime partner. "I've been with him 60 years," she reflected, noting that while Dean had "suffered a great deal" before his passing at age 82, she finds peace knowing he's no longer in pain.
"It's a hole in my heart," Parton admitted candidly, "but we'll fill that up with good stuff and he'll still always be with me."
The singer made her first public appearance since Dean's death at Dollywood's 40th-season celebration in Tennessee. Despite her grief, she maintained her characteristic warmth and humor, saying "I need to laugh. I need some fun."
During the event, Parton shared a touching anecdote about her late husband's humble nature. Dean would quietly visit Dollywood on his own, insisting on standing in line to purchase tickets rather than using his connection as "Dolly's husband."
The couple's love story began in 1964 outside a Nashville laundromat. They married two years later, building a relationship that would span six decades. While Parton became a global superstar, Dean remained deliberately private, supporting his wife's career from behind the scenes while running his asphalt paving business.
Their enduring romance inspired several of Parton's beloved songs, including "From Here to the Moon and Back." In their final years together, Dean maintained his preference for privacy, with Parton respecting his wishes to "leave me out of the whole damn thing."
As Parton navigates this new chapter, she continues to honor both their shared memories and Dean's lasting impact on her life, demonstrating that true love indeed transcends loss.