<p id=”par-1_65″>Dolly Parton and <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dolly-parton-pretty-protective-husband-carl-dean.html/”>her husband, Carl Dean</a>, were together before she became famous. He supported her career as it skyrocketed, and Parton said he never resented her success. She admitted that he had to deal with a lot because of her career, particularly because he didn’t want to <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dolly-partons-family-enraged-tabloid-stories-husband-carl-dean.html/”>be in the spotlight</a>. Still, she noted that her career had many benefits for him as well.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-dolly-parton-said-her-husband-had-it-made-in-life-because-of-her”>Dolly Parton said her husband had it ‘made’ in life because of her</h2>
<p id=”par-2_55″>When Parton and Dean met, she was a recent high school graduate who had <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dolly-parton-thought-die-homesickness-moved-nashville.html/”>just moved to Nashville</a>. Within a few years of their meeting, her career took off. Dean hated the attention and almost never stepped out in public with her. Still, Parton said that her career was good for him in some ways.</p>
<p id=”par-3_56″>“Carl has put up with a lot from my being in show business,” she wrote in her book <em><a href=”My%20Life%20and%20Other%20Unfinished%20Business” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business</a></em>. “But from most standpoints, he’s just about got it made. He has anything he wants. And he has his own time. He doesn’t have to work if he doesn’t want to.”</p>
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<p id=”par-4_34″>Still, Parton said her husband didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to take it easy. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dolly-partons-husband-carl-dean-continued-work-after-famous.html/”>He continued working</a> despite her wealth and success. Even when he neared retirement, he constantly worked around their house.</p>
<p id=”par-5_80″>“But he loves to work, so he does,” she wrote. “He’s pretty much retired now, but he never stops working around the house and on his cars. Carl sticks fiercely to the same daily routine, so I always know where he’ll be if I call him from the road. I, on the other hand, just love spontaneity. To me, any change is good, except when it comes to Carl. If he gets thrown off schedule, it wrecks his whole day.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-dolly-parton-said-this-dynamic-worked-well-for-her-and-her-husband”>Dolly Parton said this dynamic worked well for her and her husband</h2>
<p id=”par-6_17″>Ultimately, Parton said her life on the road and Dean’s life at home worked well for them. </p>
<p id=”par-7_31″>“It works out well between me and Carl,” she said. “We both get what we really want. We both have the freedom to come and go and do as we please.”</p>
<p id=”par-8_27″>She joked that the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dolly-parton-once-revealed-secret-lasting-relationship-stay-gone.html/”>time apart was actually good</a> for their marriage. Still, neither of them liked it when she was on the road for too long.</p>
<p id=”par-9_41″>“Carl doesn’t really mind my being gone, unless I’m gone for more than two weeks at a time,” she wrote. “Two weeks is just about my limit as well. After that, we both get a little nuts and a little testy.”</p>
<p id=”par-10_18″>Sometimes, when Parton was gone for too long, Dean would drive out to see her on the road.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-dolly-said-her-husband-didn-t-feel-threatened-by-her-time-away-from-him”>Dolly said her husband didn’t feel threatened by her time away from him</h2>
<p id=”par-11_23″>The people close to Parton witnessed her dynamic with Dean. Her guitarist, Don Roth, believed Dean was a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dolly-partons-husband-1-rare-individuals-married.html/”>perfect fit for the singer</a>.</p>
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<p id=”par-12_50″>“And Dolly really loves Carl, besides all that,” Roth said in the book <em>Dolly</em> by Alanna Nash. “He’s a neat man. Carl’s one of those rare individuals who could be married to Dolly Parton because he’s got his head on straight. He’s a good old country boy, extremely funny man.”</p>
<p id=”par-13_9″>The couple remained married until Dean’s death in 2025.</p>