Nearly six decades with Carl Dean
Parton married Carl Thomas Dean in May 1966. Although Dean largely stayed away from the spotlight, their marriage lasted almost six decades. Parton frequently joked that spending time apart was one of the secrets to their lasting relationship, while also describing Dean as one of her most important supporters behind the scenes.
Dean died on March 3, 2025. Parton later honored him with the song “If You Hadn’t Been There” and spoke openly about the depth of losing the man with whom she had shared most of her adult life.
His death occurred during a period when Parton was also dealing with her own health challenges.
← Previous partPart 3 / 3
