Dolly Parton Finds ‘Peace’ After Husband Carl Dean’s Passing: ‘Coping Better Than I Expected’

Dolly Parton has opened up about her emotional journey following the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, just two weeks after his death.

“I’m doing better than I thought I would,” she shared with Knox News during the 40th anniversary celebration of her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

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Reflecting on their six decades together, Parton, 79, admitted she’s adjusting to life without him. “I’ve been with him 60 years. So I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close,” she said.

The country music icon added, “I’m at peace that he’s at peace,” though she acknowledged it doesn’t take away the pain. “It’s a hole in my heart, you know. But we’ll fill that up with good stuff, and he’ll still always be with me.”

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Parton also revealed that Dean had endured significant suffering before his passing, though she didn’t provide medical details.

In a heartfelt anecdote, she remembered how her late husband would quietly visit Dollywood on his own. “He bought his own ticket, stood in line — he didn’t want someone giving him a free ticket because he was Dolly’s husband. Everybody thinks that’s the funniest thing.”

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Dollywood’s season opening was Parton’s first public appearance since Dean’s death on March 3 at the age of 82. She addressed the crowd after arriving in a pink carriage, thanking them for their support.

“I will always love him, and I miss him,” she said. “You know how I loved him, and he would want me to be working today. I expect to be working.”

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Trying to stay positive, she added, “I’ve cried enough the last week or two. I needed to come here and laugh a little and have some fun.”

On March 7, Parton honored her late husband by releasing a tribute song titled If You Hadn’t Been There.

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“I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old,” she wrote on social media. “We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. Like all great love stories, they never end — they live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him.”

Parton and Dean married in 1966 and famously kept their relationship out of the spotlight for most of their life together.