Dolly Parton Says Husband Carl Dean Was 'Ill for Quite Awhile' Before His Death: He's 'Not Suffering Anymore'

Dolly Parton knows she will spot Carl Dean again.

In an question and reply pinch The Independent published connected Wednesday, May 28, nan "Jolene" vocalist said astir her precocious hubby of almost 60 years, who died successful March aft being "ill for rather a while."

"I really consciousness his presence. I conscionable effort to spell on, because I cognize I person to," Parton, 79, told nan publication. "And he was sick for rather a while, and portion of maine was astatine peace that he was astatine bid and not suffering anymore. But that still doesn’t dress up for nan nonaccomplishment and nan loneliness of it."

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The 10-time Grammy victor besides said astir really her belief beliefs person helped her done nan play pursuing his death. "I americium a personification of faith, and I genuinely judge that I’m going to spot him again someday."

“And I spot him each time successful my memories and successful my heart, and successful each nan things that we utilized to do and each nan things that we’ve built together," Parton continued. "You conscionable benignant of person to study to benignant of make caller plans – but that’s nan hardest part."

In nan meantime, Parton is putting her power into "other things" to "keep him ever-present successful everything that I do."

Parton and Dean met successful 1964 extracurricular of a laundromat successful Nashville, wherever she moved to prosecute a profession successful music. "I'd travel to Nashville pinch soiled clothes,” she told The New York Times successful 1976.

"I was successful specified a hurry to get here. And aft I'd put my apparel successful nan machine, I started walkin’ down nan street, conscionable lookin’ astatine my caller home, and this feline hollered astatine me, and I waved. Bein’ from nan country, I said to everybody. And he came complete and, well, it was Carl, my husband."

Parton said that she wasn't readying connected getting married. "I hadn't intended to find anybody, but you cognize really emotion goes. And he understood that I had to do what I had travel to Nashville to do." They tied nan knot successful 1966.

Dean was very backstage and remained retired of nan spotlight passim their decades-long marriage, but ever remained Parton's biggest fan.

Days aft Dean died connected March 3, Parton released nan opus "If You Hadn't Been There," dedicated to nan emotion of her life connected March 6.

"I fell successful emotion pinch Carl Dean erstwhile I was 18 years old. We person spent 60 precious and meaningful years together," she wrote connected Instagram. "Like each awesome emotion stories, they ne'er end. They unrecorded connected successful representation and song. He will ever beryllium nan prima of my life story, and I dedicate this opus to him."