Dolly Parton has already established herself as a multi-talented country artist. In fact, she wears several hats in the entertainment industry as a producer, author, businesswoman, actress, philanthropist, and as an award-winning musician. Even more intriguing is the long-lasting marriage she shares with her better half, Carl Dean.

Theirs is an extraordinary marriage, in that they’ve managed to merge the best of both worlds. Parton is a public figure with most aspects of her life known, but Dean chooses to stay away from the spotlight. Recently, Parton has been opening up more about what makes their marriage last. Take a deep dive into the life of America’s iconic sweetheart!

Caught Between Her Label & Her Wedding

A wedding means much more than two people coming together. It also symbolizes the joining of two families, and the Partons and Deans were excited to welcome each side of their own. Sadly, Parton’s career somewhat deflated their joy as she had to adhere to rules set out by Monument Records on how her big day should play out.

Parton was just about to release Hello, I’m Dolly, her debut album, and her label didn’t want the wedding to distract her efforts. Parton was caught in the middle. She wanted to maintain the image they had helped her cultivate. However, she also wanted to have her dream wedding.

A Look Behind The Curtains

Carl Dean, the man who swept Parton off her feet, isn’t your typical Hollywood spouse. You would expect him to have garnered some semblance of fame by being married to Parton. Yet, the man is rarely seen by her side. Not to say that he hasn’t been there providing his support behind the scenes.

More than five decades into their union, and we are just learning some details about their union. Their marriage hasn’t been a bed of roses from what we gather through Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton. Her 2017 book gives us a look behind the curtain, revealing how they made it last.

Romance Brewed At The Laundromat

After high school, Parton set out to Nashville, and the stars aligned in her favor. While she was getting a footing in the music industry, her love life was also looking up. A handsome stranger she bumped into at the laundromat would end up being her husband.

He didn’t shy off from sharing his concern that the revealing clothes she had on that day would leave her with a bad case of sunburn. Parton took notice that his gaze was on her face when they were talking, and it wasn’t hard for them to hit it off.

Looking Beyond The Surface

For a woman who has curves and embraced them by showing them off, Parton was used to receiving advances. In fact, her public image has always been heavily pegged on her ample bosom. Parton also admitted to having cosmetic procedures to maintain her looks.

She found it refreshing that Dean had taken notice of her as an individual beyond her looks. She was both surprised and intrigued by that first encounter as they chatted away. She explained that it was rare for her to make such a connection, and she loved the fact that he was genuinely interested in knowing her.

Life On The Fast Track

Parton was 19 at the time, while Dean was 21, and they had the whole world ahead of them. They were inseparable after their chance meeting at the laundromat. Parton’s career was on a fast track by then, and she was penning down some of the greatest hits under Combine Publishing.

She signed with Monument Records when she was at that age, like a bubblegum pop artist. Her uncredited harmony on Billy Philips Put It Off Until Tomorrow convinced her label to let her go country. In 1967, she was working on her debut album, and to her executives, there wasn’t anything more important than getting her album out as scheduled.