Country music legend Dolly Parton, popular for her unique voice and philanthropic endeavors, recently suffered a devastating loss with the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, who had been a constant part of her life and career for nearly six decades. Dean’s death at the age of 82 on March 3rd brings an end to a picture-perfect union that began in 1966 when they tied the knot in a private ceremony with only three people in attendance.
In the wake of the tragic event, Parton recently opened up about how she has been coping with the grief after losing her longtime partner and lover.
Dolly Parton says she is coping bettrer than she thought after losing her husband
The musician, in an interview with Knox News, while attending the opening celebration for the 40th season of her Dollywood theme park, her first public appearance since the sad occurrence, revealed that despite the pain of losing her husband, she was navigating the pains better than she had imagined.
Parton explained that although it will be difficult adjusting to life without him, she finds comfort that Dean is finally at peace as he was in severe pain in the period leading to his death. She also noted that she will keep the memories they shared close to her heart while learning to move on with her life.
Her late husband was her pillar of support
The 79-year-old also spoke about how Dean, despite maintaining a low profile and rarely seen publicly, was her strongest supporter. Parton fondly recalled how her late husband would visit Dollywood on his own, insisting on buying his own ticket and waiting his turn like all other guests rather than accepting special treatment as her spouse. She stated that Dean would often explore the park, enjoy the food, observe the operations with a keen eye, and occasionally offer constructive feedback, which was very helpful.
Now inspired by his approach, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer revealed that she plans to emulate him by walking around the park, taking in the details, and seeing things from a visitor’s perspective.