Dolly Parton and her husband Carl Dean have enjoyed a long-lasting marriage, staying mostly out of the public eye for over 54 years. In fact, they’ve kept such a low profile that some people have even questioned whether Carl Dean really exists, according to the country music legend.
In her new book Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, the 74-year-old singer shared that their private lifestyle has led to speculation about Dean’s existence. In a recent interview with ET’s Rachel Smith, Dolly elaborated on this unusual rumor, explaining that Dean simply doesn’t like the spotlight.
“A lot of people have thought that over the years because he doesn’t want to be in the public eye at all,” Parton explained. “He’s a quiet and reserved person, and he figured if he ever got involved, he’d never get a moment of peace—and he’s right about that.”
Dolly went on to say that she respects Dean’s desire to stay out of the limelight and has worked to protect his privacy. “He told me, ‘I didn’t choose this world, I chose you, and you chose that world. But we can keep our lives separate and together.’ And that’s what we’ve done for all these years. We’ve been together 56 years, married for 54.”
The couple tied the knot in a small ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, on May 30, 1966, and have been going strong ever since. Dolly joked about the secret to their long-lasting relationship, saying, “People ask me why it’s lasted this long, and I say, ‘Because I stay gone.’ And there’s some truth to that. We’re not in each other’s faces all the time.”
Despite their different lives, Dolly shared that they enjoy spending time together in simple ways. “We have similar tastes. We love to travel around in our RV, and we don’t care much for parties and events.”
Dolly also touched on her upcoming memoir and why she chose this moment to reflect on her career through the stories behind her songs. With the COVID-19 pandemic halting live performances, Dolly used the downtime to work on her book. “I had to do something,” she said. “I couldn’t tour, so I decided to focus on the book and share a lot of old photos and memories.”
Her memoir isn’t the only exciting project for fans. Dolly recently released a new Christmas album titled A Holly Dolly Christmas. She had been wanting to create another solo holiday album for years, and with the extra time during the pandemic, she was finally able to make it happen. “We used all the high-tech options to safely record, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with everyone.”
Dolly’s new Christmas album is now available, and her memoir will be out just in time for the holiday season. For her fans, it’s a special time filled with new music and personal stories from the beloved country icon.