Dolly Parton fights back tears as she talks about death of husband Carl Dean
An emotional Dolly Parton fought back tears on Friday as she spoke on Today about the death of her husband Carl Dean at the age of 82 on March 3.
The country music legend, 79, told Savannah Guthrie: 'Oh, you know what, I get very emotional when people bring it up.'
'But we were together 60 years. I've loved him since I was 18 years old,' she said, as she fought back tears.
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Grief: Dolly Parton is understandably struggling since the death of her husband Carl Dean after 60 years together
She also spoke about the messages of support she'd received: 'I'm so thankful. I've gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world.'
Dolly jokingly added: 'I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous.'
She wrote on Instagram in March: 'I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together.'
Dolly also dedicated her new song If You Hadn't Been There to Dean.
She said: 'Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story.'
Emotion: 'But we were together 60 years. I've loved him since I was 18 years old,' she said, as she fought back tears
Emotion: 'But we were together 60 years. I've loved him since I was 18 years old,' she said, as she fought back tears
They were together for 60 years. Seen here in 1964 on their wedding day
Long marriage: The couple on their wedding day in 1964, left, and Dolly this week
Several weeks after Dean's death, Parton told Knox News, '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.'
She also shared insight into the end of her famously reclusive husband's life, revealing that he struggled leading up to his death.
'He suffered a great deal,' Dolly said. 'I'm at peace that he's at peace, but that don't keep me from missing him and loving him.'
She went on to say, '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.'
In late March, the country music icon took to Instagram to share her reaction to the tribute paid to her late spouse at this week's Opry 100: A Live Celebration show.
Much missed: Carl died on March 3 at the age of 82
Dolly said: 'I'm so thankful. I've gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world'
She said: 'I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together'
Tribute: Dolly dedicated her new song If You Hadn't Been There to Dean
During the show, stars including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lady A and about 50 members of the Opry’s choir performed Parton's 1974 song I Will Always Love You.
'Everybody here at the Opry and around the world wants to send you our thoughts and prayers,' McEntire, 69, said to Dolly from the stage.
'And you gotta know, we will always love you,' she added.
Via Instagram Stories, Dolly wrote to her 7.5 million followers, 'I have not stopped crying over the beautiful tribute of I Will Always Love You on the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry show.'
She added, 'All those beautiful people with all their beautiful voices singing my song as a tribute to my husband Carl... the emotion was beyond words.'
The legendary music artist continued, 'I have cried enough to wash a great deal of the pain away so thanks to all of you beautiful people that helped make that possible.'
She finished the note, 'I also will always love you,' and signed off, 'Dolly.'
Parton was just 18-years-old when she first crossed paths with Carl in 1964 at Nashville's Wishy Washy Laundromat. They married two years later.
She said: 'He will always be the star of my life story'
Dolly's Broadway-bound musical about her life, Dolly: An Original Musical, begins previews on July 18 for a limited August 8-17 run at Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.
Parton is not only producing the show — which is being helmed by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher — she also co-wrote the corresponding book with two-time Emmy-winning producer Maria S. Schlatter, and penned 'many original songs' and 'included all your favorites' too.
Dolly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Grand Ole Opry in 1969.
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