Dolly Parton, 79, breaks down in tears as she admits trouble ‘adjusting’ without beloved husband: ‘We were together 60 years!’
Country music legend Dolly Parton has opened up about coping with the death of her husband Carl Dean in an emotional interview.
The 79-year-old singer became visibly tearful whilst discussing her late husband, who passed away on March 3 at the age of 82.
Appearing on Friday’s Today Show in the US, Parton spoke candidly about their 60-year relationship.
Struggling to hold back tears, she told host Savannah Guthrie: “I get very emotional when people bring it up.”
“We were together for 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old,” she added.
The country star admitted that readjusting to life without her husband has been challenging. She explained: “It’s a big adjustment just trying to change patterns and habits.”
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Despite her grief, Parton remains optimistic about the future. She continued: “I’ll do fine. I’m very involved in my work and that’s been the best thing that could happen to me.”
The music legend emphasised that her busy schedule has helped her cope with the loss. However, she made it clear that Dean would always hold a special place in her heart.
“I’ll always miss him, of course, and I’ll always love him. He was a great partner to me,” Parton added.
Parton expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received following Dean’s death. “I’m so thankful. I’ve gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world,” she shared during the interview.
The singer then added a moment of levity, joking: “I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous.”
Parton’s quip referenced her husband’s famously private nature, as Dean deliberately stayed out of the spotlight throughout their marriage. Yet despite his low profile, Dean was a steadfast supporter of her iconic career for decades.
During the interview, Parton also reflected on an emotional moment following a Dollywood parade. She recalled becoming overwhelmed shortly after Dean’s death when she witnessed the love from her fans.
“I got very emotional that day after the parade because there was just so much love like that,” she explained.
“And it was right after I had lost Carl, and I was just so bottled up with emotion, and I just got in the van and just boo-hooed for the longest time, just feeling all that love and emotion,” Parton shared.
The moment came after a viral interaction with an overjoyed young fan during the parade.
Parton and Dean first met in 1964, the same day she moved to Nashville to pursue her music career.
The couple married in Georgia in 1966 and would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on 30 May 2025.
In 2016, they renewed their vows to mark their 50th anniversary.
Despite their long marriage, the couple never had children, though Parton once told Billboard they had “assumed we would have kids” early in their relationship.
Following Dean’s death, Parton shared a statement on Instagram saying: “Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story.”