Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, were married for 59 years.
Parton only had positive things to say about her husband, who didn’t like being in the spotlight.
The country singer and Dean cherished each other and enjoyed doing “little things” in their home with a farm.
Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, were married for 59 years. The two tied the knot on May 30, 1966, at a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia. The couple made a decision not to have kids in their marriage.

Throughout their 50-plus years of marriage, Dean was spotted in public only a couple of times as he stayed away from the public eye. Parton once said that the secret to her long marriage had been keeping her career and relationship separate.

Parton and Dean’s love story started in 1964 when the country singer had just moved to Nashville to pursue her singing and songwriting career. The legendary singer and her husband met at a laundromat. The handsome 22-year-old man and the gorgeous 18-year-old lady fell in love and never parted ways.

When the couple hit 51 years in marriage, Parton revealed the secret to their successful union. She said she did her best to leave her husband out of her business, keeping her marriage personal and sacred. Parton added that this move wasn’t her husband’s choice but hers because she loved him too much to expose him to the industry.

Parton also once responded to accusations that her husband was imaginary. She said many people assumed he didn’t exist because he wasn’t in the spotlight. The singer described her husband as a quiet and reserved person who would never get a minute of peace if he chose to expose himself to the industry.

The superstar said that while Dean chose to love her, he didn’t choose to be in the entertainment industry. Out of respect for her husband, Parton decided to keep him out of the limelight as much as she could. Parton described this choice as keeping their lives together and separate.

Parton said she didn’t think she would go on a full-blown music tour ever again.

The 80-year-old also joked that she told people the reason her marriage to Dean had lasted was because she was mostly out of the house. She said the fact that they weren’t in each other’s face all the time had enhanced their marriage. The couple also shared a great sense of humor, had lots of fun together, and had respect and admiration for each other….