Speaking with the AP, Parton reveals her thoughts on faith in wake of husband’s death
In early March, Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died after what was apparently an extended illness.
The death triggered an outpouring support for Parton who asked for understanding as she mourned the husband who’d spent their life together firmly outside of the spotlight.
Less than two weeks later Parton made her annual appearance celebrating the opening of Dollywood for the season. She thanked fans for their support, admitted there had been a lot of tears and encouraged everyone by sharing some of her trademark wit and wisdom, even as she frequently went rogue off the teleprompter.
Parton has made a handful of appearances since then, including back at Dollywood for celebration of the 40th anniversary of the park. But this week, in an interview with the Associated Press, she revealed more about the grieving process, her outlook on moving forward and her faith.
Dolly and Carl Dean
Dolly Parton was an up-and-coming star when she moved to Nashville at the age of 18. Depending on which version of the tale you’re reading, she met Carl Dean that very day outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat.
“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),” Parton described the meeting. “He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
The couple married two years later in Ringgold, Georgia. Dean – a businessman who owned an asphalt paving business – dipped his toe in the entertainment business, attending a couple of Dolly’s events early in their relationship. He did not enjoy it and told Parton that he’d prefer to stay out of that part of her life, a position he maintained over the ensuing decades to the point that there were rumors he didn’t exist at all.
Dean, however, wasn’t completely absent from Parton’s work. He appeared on the 1969 album cover for Dolly’s “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy.” A flirtatious encounter with a bank teller who Dolly thought fancied her husband proved to be the inspiration for the classic Jolene. Over the years she wrote romantic songs for him, covered some of his favorite rock tunes and offered praise for his loving support over the years.
Dolly opens up
Parton is one of the more media savvy entertainers of the last 60 years. She manages interviews expertly, knowing how much of her personal life and outlook she wants to share and how to steer the conversation away from topics she doesn’t want to address.
She spoke with the Today Show in early May and the Associated Press released the transcript of an interview – which was to promote her new line of single-serve frozen meals as well as an upcoming book and musical project.
“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,” Parton told the AP. “You just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans – but that’s the hardest part.”
Parton said she feels Carl’s 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,” she told the Associated Press.
Parton – whose devotion to her business and artistic ventures – told the AP that the loss of Carl Dean hasn’t changed her goals.
“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,” she said.
Wait. Dolly has a line of TV dinners?
Yep. It follows in the footsteps of her Duncan Hines Cake Mixes. Her single-serve frozen meals include Chicken & Dumplings, Beef Pot Roast, Shrimp and Grits, Country Fried Steaks and mac and cheese. They retail in the $4 range and are available at places like Target and Walmart. Sadly, the AP did not ask if she’d tried any of them yet.
Did you hear Dolly Parton’s interviews? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.