Does Dolly Parton Have Children With Late Husband Carl Dean?

Dolly Parton discovered the affection of her lifestyles in overdue husband Carl Thomas Dean. The two fell in love and were given married in 1966. And even if the “Jolene” hitmaker is among the most renowned names in tune, Carl made positive to keep away from the highlight. Nevertheless, they loved a loving courting for many years till his demise in March 2025. The information surprised enthusiasts, as many didn’t know a lot about Carl, his marriage to Dolly or whether they shared kids in combination.

As noticed in a statement on Dolly’s Instagram, she mentioned, “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.” The remark additionally indicated that Carl died in Nashville, and no reason for demise used to be equipped.

Learn extra about Dolly and Carl’s lifestyles in combination, marriage and circle of relatives under.

How Did Dolly Parton & Husband Carl Dean Meet?

Dolly met Carl when she moved to Nashville at simply 18 years outdated out of doors of a Wishy Washy Laundromat, in line with the Associated Press. Per the opening, the rustic tune tremendous big name recalled feeling “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.”

What Was Carl Dean’s Job?

Carl used to be a businessman and owned an asphalt-paving industry in Nashville. He in the end retired from his paintings whilst dwelling a low-key way of life with Dolly.

Carl Dean & Dolly Parton’s Ages

Carl died on the age of 82, and Dolly is recently 79 years outdated.

Do Dolly Parton & Carl Dean Have Kids?

No, Dolly does now not percentage kids together with her overdue husband, Carl. The “9 to 5” songstress has spread out about now not having kids in a couple of interviews all through her profession. While talking with Saga Exceptional in 2023, Dolly recalled pondering that she and Carl have been going to have children once they first fell in love.

“When you’re a young couple, you think you’re going to have kids, but it just wasn’t one of those burning things for me,” she defined. “I had my career and my music and I was traveling. If I’d had kids, I’d have stayed home with them, I’m sure, and worried myself to death about them. With everything that’s going on, I’d hate to be bringing a child into this world right now.”

During a prior interview with Billboard, Dolly defined why she didn’t feel sorry about now not having her personal kids with Carl.

“I used to think I should regret it,” Dolly famous within the 2014 interview. “Early on, when my husband and I were dating, and then when we got married, we just assumed we would have kids. We weren’t doing anything to stop it. In fact, we thought maybe we would. We even had names if we did, but it didn’t turn out that way. Now I say, ‘God didn’t mean for me to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine.’ I’m very close to my family — five of my younger brothers and sisters lived with me and Carl for many years — and we’re very close to our nieces and nephews. Now that Carl and I are older, we often say, “Aren’t you glad we didn’t have kids? Now we don’t have kids to worry about.’”

Carl Dean Inspired Dolly Parton’s Song ‘Jolene’

Behind the long-lasting lyrics of “Jolene” is a tale, however it’s now not as dramatic as enthusiasts would possibly suppose. During a 2008 interview with NPR, Dolly published that she used to be impressed to write down the tune a couple of financial institution teller who looked as if it would have a overwhelm on Carl.

“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Dolly claimed. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”