Dolly Parton is grieving the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, but she’s leaning on her unshakable faith to help her through the heartbreak.
The country music legend, now 79, lost Carl earlier this year at the age of 82, and while the pain of losing him still lingers, she finds comfort in believing they’ll be reunited in the afterlife.
Speaking to The Independent, Dolly got candid about how her faith has helped her cope. “I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I’m going to see him again someday,” she said. “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.”
She didn’t sugarcoat it. Even with all the love and support around her, she admitted that loneliness has been a tough part of the journey. Losing a partner after so many decades together leaves a huge void. Still, there’s a layer of peace in knowing Carl’s no longer in pain. “He was ill for quite a while,” she shared, “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’s love story with Carl Dean was famously private. He stayed out of the spotlight almost entirely throughout their marriage, choosing to live quietly while Dolly built one of the most iconic careers in music history. Despite the privacy, their bond was strong. Dolly revealed, “I really feel his presence. I just try to go on, because I know I have to.”
Now that he’s gone, Dolly is pouring all her emotional energy into her work. “When I did lose him,” she explained, “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.” Whether it’s through music, writing, or performing, she’s using creativity as her coping mechanism.
She’s not slowing down anytime soon, either. Dolly calls herself a “workhorse that looks like a show horse,” and she’s currently working on an autobiographical musical. She still thrives on performing and staying active. “My husband always said, ‘If anybody was ever born to be a star, it’s you,’” she said with a smile. “Because he sees me loving to do all the things and playing and stuff, it’s playtime for me. But I take it very seriously.”
What made their decades-long relationship work? According to Dolly, it was their differences. The two couldn’t have been more opposite in personality, but that’s what made it special. “They say that opposites attract, and it’s true. We’re completely opposite, but that’s what makes it fun,” she told People back in 2015.
Even though Carl wasn’t in the spotlight, he was always Dolly’s biggest supporter. He believed in her talent and passion, and that support clearly continues to motivate her. Losing him hasn’t dimmed her drive-if anything, it’s given her a deeper sense of purpose.
While nothing can fill the space Carl left behind, Dolly Parton’s deep faith, her commitment to honoring their memories, and her unbreakable work ethic are what keep her going. She’s found strength in her spirituality, and that belief in a reunion someday is what brings her comfort in the quiet moments.
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