Dolly Parton says working helps to keep her ‘occupied' following husband's death

Miami Herald

26-05-2025

Dolly Parton is still learning how to live without her husband.
The 79-year-old country music icon was married to Carl Dean for 58 years until his death on March 3 at the age of 82. His exact cause of death has not yet been publicly confirmed.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, published May 22, Parton opened up about the mixed emotions she has felt in the months since her husband passed away.
'I'm doing as well as one can after 60 years being with and loving somebody,' she told ET. 'I miss him… I was with him for so long.'
While she says her husband 'did suffer a lot for the last few years' and a part of her is 'happy he's at peace and at rest,' Parton is still grappling with the fact that he's no longer with her.
'But then, of course, there's part of me that will miss him forever and long for him every day and for the rest of my life, I'm sure,' she explained to ET.
On March 6, just a few days after her husband's death, Parton released her newest single, 'If You Hadn't Been There.'
While talking to ET, she said she decided to release the song as a tribute to Dean.
'It's always hard to lose someone you love, but you do the best you can,' she says. 'And the fact that I've got my work has been probably the best blessing — that I've been involved in so many things.'
Parton says her work is helping to keep her occupied 'instead of me just folding in on myself.'
Aside from the release of her new song, Parton is gearing up for the world premiere of 'Dolly: An Original Musical,' which debuts July 18 at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee.
The musical will take fans 'on a journey through the life of this rhinestone in the rough,' per the show's official website.
Earlier this year, Parton celebrated the 40th anniversary of her theme park, Dollywood.
But for Parton, everything always comes back to music.
'I sing when I'm everywhere. I sing when I don't even know I'm singing,' she told ET before recalling a sweet memory about her husband.
'Carl used to say, 'Do you have to sing all the time?'' Parton remembered. 'I said, 'Well, I reckon I must. I didn't know I was singing!'
Parton says she's always writing or practicing a song in her head.
'You know, I'm just made of music because I grew up in a musical family and I write all the time,' she continued. 'I'm always working on something, so that's just natural.'
When Parton isn't writing a song, she's often cooking — and singing while she does it.
That's why she's excited to partner with Conagra with the launch of her new line of Southern-inspired frozen, single-serve meals and sides. The meals are available today in grocery stores.
'I thought it was just a perfect thing to do,' she told ET of the partnership. 'I've thought for years I would love to eventually have a frozen food line with all the good foods I love,' she continued.
She says the meals are perfect for bachelors, college students and people who live alone or don't have time to cook a hearty meal.
As for how she would make the meals better, Parton says she's a huge fan of potatoes.
'Even though there's some potatoes in it, I would put some coleslaw or some mashed potatoes in addition to that,' she explained. 'I've served potatoes on potatoes on potatoes.'
Parton says she even likes to dip her french fries in mashed potatoes.
'That's how much I love potatoes,' she jokes.
The new product launch, which builds on her 2022 partnership with Conagra, includes a Beef Pot Roast, Chicken & Dumplings, Country Fried Steak and Shrimp & Grits.