SURPRISING EMOTION! Dolly Parton Opens Up About Her Late Husband – Savannah Guthrie’s SUPPORTIVE Words STIRRED the Audience


Dolly Parton shared a teary tribute to her late husband Carl Dean during an appearance on the Today Show(Image: NBC)
Dolly Parton was visibly holding back tears when Savannah Guthrie inquired about her well-being following her husband’s passing on NBC’s morning Today Show.

The 79-year-old country icon confessed she becomes “very emotional” whenever someone mentions Carl Dean. After his passing at age 82 on March 3, 2025, Dolly released an emotional statement to the public, expressing: “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

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She delved deeper into their bond during an appearance on the Today Show over the weekend, during which she revealed: “We were together 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old.”

Dolly also expressed gratitude towards her fans for their overwhelming support through flowers and heartfelt cards, humorously noting, “I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous!”

While the exact cause of Carl’s death remains private, Dolly hinted at health struggles in a recent conversation with Knox News, where she said: “He suffered a great deal.

However, the 9 to 5 singer pointed out: “I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him. 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.”

Dean’s funeral was a quiet affair, limited to immediate family members only. In tribute to her beloved spouse, Parton dedicated her new song If You Hadn’t Been There to his memory.

The tune reflects the “ups and downs” Dean supported her through. Singing with emotional depth, Parton reveals in the poignant track: “You’ve always seen the best in me, if you hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here.”

Dolly Parton with her late husband Carl Dean(Image: (Image: Getty))
Their love story began at the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville when Parton was fresh-faced at 18. Reflecting on that pivotal moment, she confided: “I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”

A whirlwind romance led them to wed two years subsequent, in 1966, in the humble town of Ringgold, Georgia. Despite being hitched to an international superstar, Dean maintained a low-profile throughout his existence, ardently backing Parton as she captivated audiences worldwide, whilst tending his asphalt paving enterprise in their Nashville home.

Her acclaimed anthem Jolene is rumoured to be drawn from her life with him. Chatting with Knox News, Parton divulged how immense the shift has been adapting to solitude post a 60-year companionship with her soulmate.

On television, she gave insight: “I’m doing better than I thought I would. 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.”