Dolly Parton Once Shared The True Reason Why She Kept Her Marriage Private
on Feb 24, 2025 • Updated Mar 03, 2025
Dolly Parton’s Mysterious Husband, Carl Dean, Kept Out Of The Spotlight
Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, married in 1966. They were together for nearly 60 years before Carl passed away on March 3, 2025.
However, those who know little about Parton’s personal life may not know she was married.
The reason why? Dean chose to live his life out of the spotlight.
Dean did not attend awards shows, concerts, or other events. He preferred to spend time with his wife at their home in Tennessee or while traveling on the road in their RV.
To top off, Parton and Dean had only been photographed together a few times since they were married.
Although they were hardly ever seen together, Parton often brought him up in interviews, telling Parade in 2015:
“We’ve just been best buddies and best friends and, evidently, it’s working!“
Why Didn’t Dolly Parton’s Husband Step Out In Public?
Even though Dolly Parton was always happy to talk about her husband whenever she was asked, she never tried to drag him along to any of her events or other commitments.
During an interview with Fox & Friends about her children’s album I Believe in You, Parton shared the true reason why she kept her relationship with Dean under wraps.
Parton said when Dean married her, he wasn’t choosing to live a life full of fame and fortune. After all, she had just signed a record deal when she married Dean during a tiny ceremony in Georgia.
Neither of them had any idea that she would one day go on to become a global superstar.
She Always Tried To Respect His Privacy
Since Dean didn’t sign up for a fame-filled life, Parton always tried to respect his privacy. She once explained that is why she decided to keep her marriage to herself.
“I’ve kept [my marriage] very personal and sacred and I try to keep my husband out of the business,” she said. “That’s not what he chose to do, he just happened to love me and I love him enough to not expose him to it.“
You can hear Dolly share a few more details about her relationship with Dean in the video below. May he rest in peace…
