Country icons Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton have been close friends for decades, yet Reba has never met the latter’s husband, Carl Dean Thomas. Reba revealed this during a recent appearance on Andy Cohen’s Sirius XM radio show while discussing their admirable friendship.
The duo’s four-decade friendship started at the Grand Ole Opry in the ‘70s when Reba was to perform two numbers but Dolly snagged one instead. They have both worked together ever since while achieving star status at a similar pace.
Is Dolly Parton’s husband real?
Andy got curious about Dolly’s marriage, and Reba assured him that her lover Dean was indeed in the picture but preferred to stay private. Dolly has been married to Dean for almost six decades, and he has avoided the spotlight since their first high-profile event together at the start of Dolly’s music career.
Despite the close bond between them, Reba has never seen Dolly’s spouse in person, nor has she gotten an invitation to their residence or has Dolly’s cooking. Dolly has admitted in the past that her beau is a loner, which explains why he does not mind her being away for long while touring or doing demanding gigs.
Why is Dolly Parton’s husband so private?
Dolly once recalled her first-ever award dinner in Nashville, when Dean accompanied her in a rented tuxedo. He could hardly cope with the social demand that came with her job and asked her to keep him out of her public appearances. Dolly has since attended most events on her own, noting that they have a mutual understanding of their differences.
The 78-year-old admitted that her husband loves to stay home and enjoys taking care of the farm, while she prefers to travel. She credits their difference as the secret to their lasting marriage, noting that their time apart helped them value moments together.