Latest news with #CarlDean
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dolly Parton reveals painful secret she kept from her fans to protect her private husband before his death
Dolly Parton says she kept her late husband Carl Dean's health battle under wraps from her fans, revealing he had been in a longtime health battle. The 78-year-old music legend, speaking in an interview with The Independent published Wednesday, said that her beloved spouse had been 'ill for quite a while' prior to his passing at 82 on March 3. The Pittman Center, Tennessee-born icon told the outlet: 'I really feel his presence. I just try to go on, because I know I have to.' The Grammy-winning artist continued: '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.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The Here You Come Again artist also cited religion as a major factor in the life in dealing with her soulmate's tragic passing after an extended illness. 'I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I'm going to see him again someday,' Parton told the outlet. She added, '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.' Parton told the AP in a statement upon Dean's passing that he died in Nashville and was set to have a private funeral. 'Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,' Parton said in a statement at the time. 'Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.' She wrapped up in telling her fans: 'Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.' Parton past said her signature hit Jolene was inspired by a stunning bank teller who had been partial to her spouse. Parton made the revelation about the track, which came out in October of 1973, while in concert at the Glastonbury Festival 2014. Parton explained to the crowd of how the tune came to be creatively, The Independent reported at the time. After performing the song - which has been covered by Beyoncé and a host of other artists - Parton told the crowd, 'Now, some of you may or may not know that that song was loosely based on a little bit of truth.' 'I wrote that years ago when my husband … was spending a little more time with Jolene than I thought he should be.' After the crowd booed at the news of Dean's roving eye, Parton reassured the fans she 'put a stop to that' and 'got rid of that redhead woman in a hurry,' spurring cheers from the crowd. Parton told the audience that channeling her emotions from the uncomfortable situation into a Grammy-winning song ultimately made her very wealthy. 'I want you folks to know, though, that something good can come from anything,' Parton said. 'Had it not been for that woman I would never have written Jolene and I wouldn't have made all that money, so thank you, Jolene.' Speaking with NPR in a 2008 chat, Parton said that the woman who inspired the track had 'this terrible crush on [her] husband and he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. 'It was kinda like a running joke between us - when I was saying, "Hell, you're spending a lot of time at the bank. I don't believe we've got that kind of money." So it's really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.' Parton told NPR about the physical characteristics the woman displayed and how they differed from her own: 'She had everything I didn't, like legs. You know, she was about six-feet-tall. 'So no matter how beautiful a woman might be, you're always threatened by certain... You're always threatened by other women, period.' While the emotions brought about by the bank teller made for the creative backbone of the hit song, Parton said the name Jolene itself was from a young fan who attended one of her concerts. 'One night, I was on stage, and there was this beautiful little girl - she was probably 8 years old at the time,' she told the outlet. 'And she had this beautiful red hair, this beautiful skin, these beautiful green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, for an autograph. 'I said, "Well, you're the prettiest little thing I ever saw. So what is your name?" And she said, "Jolene."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dolly Parton details 'loneliness' after husband's death - 'I see him every day'
Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, died on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82 after nearly 60 years of marriage Dolly Parton revealed her 'loneliness' after her husband Carl Dean's death earlier this year. He passed away on March 3, 2025 at the age of 82 after nearly 60 years of marriage. The couple had been married since 1966, after first getting together two years prior. In 2016, the pair renewed their vows to mark their 50th wedding anniversary. At the time of his death, a statement released on behalf of the superstar to announce the tragic news about her beloved husband said: "Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away on March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie. "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy. The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time." Almost three months on from his death, Dolly opened up about how she's doing, revealing she 'truly believes she's going to see him again someday'. The star confessed she 'sees him every day in her memories and in her heart' during a chat with The Independent. The 10-time Grammy winner went on to say: "I really feel his presence. "I just try to go on, because I know I have to. 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." Dolly previously shared an update with concerned fans, saying she was "doing better than I thought I would." Speaking to Knox News, she said: 'I've been with him 60 years. So, I'm going to have to relearn some of the things that we've done. "But I'll keep him always close.' The Jolene singer also emotionally revealed that Carl had 'suffered a great deal' towards the end of his life. 'I'm at peace that he's at peace, but that don't keep me from missing him and loving him… "It's a hole in my heart, you know, but we'll fill that up with good stuff and he'll still always be with me," she said. Later thanking fans for their kind messages, Dolly shared: "Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you've sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl. "I can't reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in God's arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you."
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Dolly Parton on the ‘hardest part' of widowhood
Dolly Parton says her faith has been a source of strength following the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March. Parton says she truly believes she will see Dean again someday, and she holds him close 'in my memories and in my heart'. She says the 'hardest part' about living without her husband is learning to make new plans. They were married for nearly 60 years, and Dean, who inspired Parton's hit 'Jolene' and her 2023 album Rockstar, was always proud of her, Parton says. The singer is channeling her energy into new projects, including a book titled Star of the Show and an autobiographical musical premiering in Nashville in July.
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Dolly Parton leans on her faith after losing husband of nearly 60 years
NEW YORK — Dolly Parton's angelic voice floated throughout her first gospel album in 1971 with songs like 'I Believe,' 'Lord Hold My Hand' and the album's title track, 'Golden Streets of Glory.' The entertainment icon says the same steadfast faith that inspired those hymns have anchored her throughout her grief following the death her husband, Carl Dean.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Dolly Parton leans on her faith after losing husband of nearly 60 years
Dolly Parton's angelic voice floated throughout her first gospel album in 1971 with songs like 'I Believe,' ' Lord Hold My Hand' and the album's title track, 'Golden Streets of Glory.' The entertainment icon says the same steadfast faith that inspired those hymns have anchored her throughout her grief following the death her husband, Carl Dean. 'I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I'm going to see him again someday. 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,' said Parton. 'You just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans — but that's the hardest part.' The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honoree reflected on her marriage of nearly 60 years while promoting her new single-serve Southern-inspired frozen meals, following her popular Duncan Hines baking mixes via a collaboration with US-based Conagra Brands. Dean, who avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit 'Jolene,' as well as her 2023 'Rockstar' album, died in March at 82. 'I really feel his presence,' said the 10-time Grammy winner. 'I just try to go on, because I know I have to. 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 79-year-old recording artist spoke with The Associated Press about her perspective on life without her husband, her entrepreneurial spirit and on why she's never embraced the title 'superstar.' The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity. AP: It seems like the entire world was thinking of you following your loss. Has your perspective changed of what you hope to accomplish after losing your husband? PARTON: No, I just think that I've always had dreams and I'm always working. My husband understood that. Carl knew that better than anybody and he was all about it. He was very proud of me. … 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. AP: You have so many business ventures and philanthropic work. Where did your entrepreneurial acumen begin? PARTON: I just think that if you're successful, if you are lucky enough to see your dreams come true, you need to make new dreams out of your other dreams. Because it's like a tree with lots of limbs and leaves, so every dream, you can kind of branch off — if you'll pardon the expression — and do other things. And I like the business end of things. I like seeing things happen, and I love making things happen. So, my mind just naturally works that way. AP: You have your popular Duncan Hines cake mixes and now, your single-serve frozen meals. What other projects are you working on? PARTON: I have a new book coming out ... this one is called 'Star of the Show,' which is actually a song I wrote years ago. But it's about my life on the road and my life on stage — all the behind the scenes and all the people that I've met, and all of the things that happen when you're traveling like that as I have for all of these years. So, that, and then I have my life story as a musical. It's called 'Dolly: An Original Musical.' And I've written a lot of original songs for it. Of course, it'll have the big hits that are woven into the story. And it's just about my life, from the time I was little until up through now. It's going to be at the Fisher Center of Performing Arts at Belmont University (in Nashville). Then, once that has its run through the end of August, then we take it to New York to open on Broadway next year. AP: How are you celebrating the 40th anniversary of your Dollywood theme park? PARTON: One of the things they did for the 40th anniversary was put a big sign up on the hill there above Dollywood that says 'Dollywood' like the Hollywood sign. … Years ago, when I thought, 'Well, someday I'm going to have my own theme park and I'm gonna change that H to a D and have Dollywood.' So, they finally, after 40 years, put that sign up, even though I've talked about it for years. So, we've got a lot of wonderful things planned for the whole season that's celebrating the 40th anniversary. It seems just like a few years back, but it's like everything else: I was with Carl for 60 years, and Dollywood's 40 years old. And that's just hard to believe because I'm only 27. (laughs) AP: Have you accepted that you're the Dolly Parton, global superstar? PARTON: I don't think about my life in terms of 'superstar.' I'm just a workin' girl. I always say — and it's the truth — that I am a workhorse that looks like a show horse. But I gotta keep it all up and I enjoy all of it. … My husband always said, 'If anybody was ever born to be a star, it's you.' Because he sees me loving to do all the things and playing and stuff — it's play time for me. But I take it very serious. ___ Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
