50 Years Later, Dolly Parton Finally Got Her Dream Wedding

ABC via Yahoo News

You could definitely say Dolly Parton is looking forward to her 50th anniversary celebration with her husband, Carl Dean. She’s been talking about it for months, and a recent interview makes it clear why she’s so excited. 

On May 20, 1966, Parton married Dean, who runs an asphalt paving business in Nashville. Unlike Parton, her husband has tried to stay away from the spotlight, and has become somewhat of a mystery in the country music world.

For the couple’s 50th anniversary this year, they are planning a huge vow renewal ceremony that is sure to be over the top, in Parton’s true style. For Parton it will be a dream come true, since she had to put her dream wedding on hold when she tied the knot with Dean.

Parton told The Boot and other reporters she had just signed with her record label when her and Dean were engaged, and the head of the label, Fred Foster, asked her if she could put her wedding on hold:

“He was investing quite a bit of money in me to try and get me started in the business…He heard that I was engaged, and we had already sent out our wedding invitations, and so he called me in the office and said, ‘I would really appreciate it if you wouldn’t get married for at least a year, so I can kind of make sure I can get a return on my investment, because I want you to be free to work and do whatever you need to do.'”

So instead of pushing back their wedding, Parton and Dean eloped to Ringgold, Georgia and got married right away, so the news wouldn’t be picked up in the papers in Tennessee. They tried to make the best of the situation, and Parton’s mother made her a white dress for the simple ceremony.

“No people there, just the preacher and his wife, the witness and Mama and Carl and I,” said Parton.

Parton and Dean on their wedding day. Photo credit: Oprah via The Daily Mail

Although Parton looks back on her wedding day with great fondness, she admits that she is beyond excited to finally have the dream wedding she always wanted. Something that she’s looking forward to the most? A fancy wedding dress, which is being made just for her.

“I missed having a wedding dress and all that,” Parton said. “I’m being fitted up for that. He’s looking for suits. We’re going to take a bunch of pictures. Might even sell some to the rag mags and take the money and give it to the Imagination Library. That’s my plan.“

We think that sounds like a great plan, and we can’t wait to see pictures from Parton’s 50th anniversary celebration! In the meantime, enjoy watching the photo slideshow below of some pictures of Parton and Dean throughout the years.

We’re so glad Parton finally gets to have the wedding she has always dreamed of!