Dolly Parton is keeping the memory of her husband, Carl Dean, alive after he passed away on March 3. Carl was 82 years old, and Dolly, a famous singer, has been quieter since he died. She said she feels better knowing he’s in heaven and even wrote a new song for him. But a few weeks later, she surprised everyone by showing up at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee to start its 40th season.
Dolly appeared at the Celebrity Theater in Dollywood just 11 days after Carl passed away in their hometown of Nashville. She hadn’t been out in public much since then, so it was a big deal. While she was there, she talked to the crowd and said she’ll always love Carl, her husband of over 60 years, and she’ll miss him a lot.
Dolly and Carl’s Special Love
Dolly shared a sweet message with the people at Dollywood. “Of course I will always love him, and I’ll miss him, but I wanted you to know that I will always love you,” she said. She’d already told her fans about Carl’s death on Instagram, saying thank you for all the kind notes, cards, and flowers they sent. “This is a love note to family, friends, and fans,” she wrote. She also said Carl is with God now, and she’s okay with that, ending with, “I will always love you,” like her famous song from 1974.
On March 7, Dolly released a new song called “If You Hadn’t Been There” just for Carl. It was her way of showing how much he meant to her.
A Long, Happy Marriage
Dolly and Carl got married on May 30, 1966. Even though Dolly became a huge star, Carl stayed out of the spotlight and liked a quiet life. They were married for a super long time—over 60 years! Dolly once said she had a little crush on someone else years ago, but her faith helped her stay true to Carl. To celebrate 50 years together in 2016, they said their wedding promises again. Dolly joked, “If I had it to do all over, I’d do it all over again, and we did. I’m dragging him kicking and screaming into the next 50 years.” She loved him so much and wanted everyone to know it, even after he was gone.
