Dolly Parton reveals husband Carl Dean’s secret health battle before his death

By Stephanie Webber
She will always love him.
Dolly Parton is opening up about the death of her husband, Carl Dean, and how he secretly was sick before his death at age 82 in March.
“I really feel his presence. I just try to go on, because I know I have to,” she told The Independent in an interview published on Wednesday. “And he was ill for quite a while, and part of me was at peace that he was at peace and not suffering anymore. But that still doesn’t make up for the loss and the loneliness of it.”
The “Steel Magnolias” actress, 79, did not disclose what specific heath battle he faced.
Dolly Parton attends "Dolly: An Original Musical" in Nashville on January 28, 2025.s
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean in an Instagram photo she shared on February 14, 2022.
dollyparton/Instagram
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Parton and Dean were married for nearly 60 years before his passing. The couple married on May 30, 1966, and did not have children.
“I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I’m going to see him again someday,” she went on.
“And I see him every day in my memories and in my heart, and in all the things that we used to do and all the things that we’ve built together. You just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans – but that’s the hardest part.”
After his death, Parton released the song “If You Hadn’t Been There” in honor of the businessman.
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean in an Instagram photo she shared on November 25, 2021.
dollyparton/Instagram
Parton and Dean met in 1964 outside of a laundromat in Nashville. Although he remained out of the spotlight for most of their relationship, the singer gushed that he was always “very proud” of her behind closed doors.
“So when I did lose him, I just thought, well, I’m going to take all of that energy, and I’m just going to put that back into other things, and I’ll keep him ever-present in everything that I do,” she told the outlet.
Dolly Parton released the song "If You Hadn’t Been There" in honor of Carl Dean following his death.
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Dolly Parton released the song “If You Hadn’t Been There” in honor of Carl Dean following his death.
dollyparton/Instagram
The 10-time Grammy winner is keeping to her word. She has been busy working on an autobiographical musical, which will open in Nashville in July before opening on Broadway in 2026.
“This show is a celebration of my music, my life and all the amazing people who’ve been with me along the way,” she wrote on social media in Dec. 2024. “We’re looking for talented performers who can capture the spirit of my journey, whether you’re an experienced theater professional or an undiscovered gem with that little special something.”
Her new book, “Star of the Show: My Life on Stage,” will also hit shelves on Nov. 11.
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