Dolly Parton has been anticipating her 50th anniversary celebration for months. On May 30, 1966, Parton tied the knot with Carl Dean, who has earned a reputation as a man of mystery.
Although Parton is a global sensation, Dean has remained out of the spotlight for the duration of their 50 year marriage. Despite their different personalities and lifestyles, Parton and Dean’s love is as strong as ever, which is why they’ve decided to throw a huge celebration for their anniversary.
Parton never got the chance to have the wedding of her dreams when she married Dean in 1966. That’s because she had just signed her recording contract and promised she wouldn’t get married for a while. So to keep her label from finding out, Parton and Dean eloped to Georgia, where they were married in a small ceremony.
Now, Parton has the chance to throw the big wedding she always dreamed of. Her and Dean will even pose for a few pictures, which Parton intends on selling to raise money for her nonprofit, The Imagination Library.
During an interview with ABC News, Parton said that even though Dean agreed to take part in the celebration, he isn’t exactly looking forward to it. Parton then went on to joke that if Dean doesn’t go through with their vow renewal, they may not have an anniversary to celebrate next year!
“He don’t like to do this kind of thing as a rule,” she said. “But he’s like me, he’s proud we’ve made it 50 years…so anyway, we’re gonna do it. He said he would, so he better –or it won’t last another year!“
While it surely took some coaxing to get Dean to go through with the vow renewal, Parton teased him for needing constant convincing to complete even simple tasks.
“My husband is the worst!” she joked. “It’s hard for me to make him do anything…I have to make him get new clothes. I go get ’em and [he says] ‘I don’t like that…my feet are too long…I don’t like those socks.’ I said, ‘Well, we’re going shopping for a wedding suit and I don’t want to hear nothin’ about it!’“
After 50 years, it’s clear that Parton’s just as smitten by her husband as she was when they first married, even though she can’t get him to do anything he needs to do.
We wish Parton and Dean many more years of happiness together!
