01of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean Sharing a Kiss
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean.Dolly Parton/instagram
The couple’s romancehas been going strong ever since, though they usually keep their relationship out of the spotlight. The only official glimpses we’ve gotten of their love story are throughParton’s sweet tributes on social media, which usually include throwback images of them.
On Valentine’s Day in 2022, Parton sharedthis cute photo of Dean giving her a kisson the cheek, writing, “Happy Valentine’s Day y’all! Remember to squeeze your loved ones a little tighter today and tell them you love ‘em! ❤️”
02of 09Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean at Their WeddingCourtesy of Dolly PartonFor the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary in May 2016, Parton shared a handful of images of her and Dean through the years on her website, including a rare photo of them on their wedding day.“I married a really good man, a guy that’s completely different from me,” PartontoldParade. “He’s not in show business. He’s not resentful of any of that. He loves to hear about the things I do. I love to hear about the things he does. So we enjoy each other’s company. We get along good.”
02of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean at Their Wedding
Courtesy of Dolly Parton
For the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary in May 2016, Parton shared a handful of images of her and Dean through the years on her website, including a rare photo of them on their wedding day.
“I married a really good man, a guy that’s completely different from me,” PartontoldParade. “He’s not in show business. He’s not resentful of any of that. He loves to hear about the things I do. I love to hear about the things he does. So we enjoy each other’s company. We get along good.”
03of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean Holding Hands
Dolly Parton/Instagram
In November 2021, Partonshared a cute throwback photo of her and Dean holding handsthat had been cleverly edited to look like he was wearing a piece of her official merch. “Find you a partner who will support you like my Carl Dean does!” she cheekily captioned the shot.
04of 09Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean All Dolled UpCourtesy of Dolly PartonIn another photo the country icon shared for their 50th anniversary, she wears her signature voluminous curls while he sported a plaid three-piece suit.“He’s a blessing to me,” Parton told PEOPLE about her marriage to Dean. “Not everyone is lucky enough to be with someone for 50 years, but I have been. He has been the love of my life and the life of my love.”
04of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean All Dolled Up
In another photo the country icon shared for their 50th anniversary, she wears her signature voluminous curls while he sported a plaid three-piece suit.
“He’s a blessing to me,” Parton told PEOPLE about her marriage to Dean. “Not everyone is lucky enough to be with someone for 50 years, but I have been. He has been the love of my life and the life of my love.”
05of 09Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean With Their DogCourtesy of Dolly PartonThe two were in puppy love as they posed withtheir dog Popeyein this undated picture.The couple doesn’t have children, but Parton says she dotes on her nieces and nephews and loves to help children around the world throughher Imagination Library.“Now that I’m older, I realize I didn’t have kids of my own, so everybody’s kids could be mine,“Parton told PEOPLE. “I [want to] empower children and give them confidence.”
05of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean With Their Dog
The two were in puppy love as they posed withtheir dog Popeyein this undated picture.
The couple doesn’t have children, but Parton says she dotes on her nieces and nephews and loves to help children around the world throughher Imagination Library.
“Now that I’m older, I realize I didn’t have kids of my own, so everybody’s kids could be mine,“Parton told PEOPLE. “I [want to] empower children and give them confidence.”
06of 09Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean Sharing a HugCourtesy of Dolly PartonParton previously joked that the key to her long marriage with Dean is that distance makes the heart grow fonder.“My husband and I have a great relationship. We’ve been together most of our lives,” she told PEOPLE. “I always joke and laugh when people ask me what’s the key to my long marriage and lasting love. I always say ‘Stay gone!’ and there’s a lot of truth to that. I travel a lot, but we really enjoy each other when we’re together and the little things we do.”
06of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean Sharing a Hug
Parton previously joked that the key to her long marriage with Dean is that distance makes the heart grow fonder.
“My husband and I have a great relationship. We’ve been together most of our lives,” she told PEOPLE. “I always joke and laugh when people ask me what’s the key to my long marriage and lasting love. I always say ‘Stay gone!’ and there’s a lot of truth to that. I travel a lot, but we really enjoy each other when we’re together and the little things we do.”
07of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean Posing For a Photo
For their 50th anniversary, Parton shared this black-and-white image of her and Dean posing under a tree.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Parton said of Dean, “We’re completely opposite, but that’s what makes it fun. I never know what he’s gonna say or do. He’s always surprising me.”
“He’s kind of a loner, so he doesn’t really like being with anybody but me,” she said. “He’s not one to kind of get out there and socialize that much. He loves living on the farm, taking care of the property as he has for all these many years.”
08of 09Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean’s Lasting RomanceHandoutWhile Parton is a true stunner (and loves to dress up to show herself off), she notes that Dean loves her for her inner beauty. “He knows I’m always going to kind of be fixed up for him because I don’t believe in going home and being a slouch,” she told PEOPLE. “He doesn’t care what I wear as long as I’m happy. He loves me the way I am.“In December 2022, PartontoldET Canadathat humor is also the key to having a long marriage. “We both have a warped sense of humor,” she said. “And I think humor, honestly, is one of the best things when you’re married like that. Even if you have a problem, if you have a great sense of humor, if you say something you can’t take back [you] usually have some crazy way of getting out of it.”
08of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean’s Lasting Romance
Handout
While Parton is a true stunner (and loves to dress up to show herself off), she notes that Dean loves her for her inner beauty. “He knows I’m always going to kind of be fixed up for him because I don’t believe in going home and being a slouch,” she told PEOPLE. “He doesn’t care what I wear as long as I’m happy. He loves me the way I am.”
In December 2022, PartontoldET Canadathat humor is also the key to having a long marriage. “We both have a warped sense of humor,” she said. “And I think humor, honestly, is one of the best things when you’re married like that. Even if you have a problem, if you have a great sense of humor, if you say something you can’t take back [you] usually have some crazy way of getting out of it.”
09of 09Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean’s Love Through the YearsCourtesy of Dolly PartonFor Thanksgiving in 2021, Parton shared a throwback photo of her and Dean cuddled up on a couch, writing, “Happy #Thanksgiving from me and mine to you and yours.“During an interview with PEOPLE, Parton shared that while she likes a quiet kitchen,she enjoys cooking with Dean.“I like it when he comes. A lot of times he’ll sit and watch me, or he’ll talk,” she said. “He’s a pretty good cook. Not a gourmet cook, but I tour so much he’s always, through the years, had to fix things for himself. So he knows how to do that, but he loves my cooking.”
09of 09
Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean’s Love Through the Years
For Thanksgiving in 2021, Parton shared a throwback photo of her and Dean cuddled up on a couch, writing, “Happy #Thanksgiving from me and mine to you and yours.”
During an interview with PEOPLE, Parton shared that while she likes a quiet kitchen,she enjoys cooking with Dean.
“I like it when he comes. A lot of times he’ll sit and watch me, or he’ll talk,” she said. “He’s a pretty good cook. Not a gourmet cook, but I tour so much he’s always, through the years, had to fix things for himself. So he knows how to do that, but he loves my cooking.”
source: people.com
