Dolly Parton, the iconic country music star, has had a remarkable career filled with success and fame.
Throughout it all, her marriage to husband Carl Thomas Dean has remained a steadfast and cherished aspect of her life.
Their love story began in 1964 when Dolly, just 18 years old at the time, met Carl outside their local laundrette.
Within two years, they tied the knot, and since then, they have managed to keep the flame of romance alive in their relationship.
Despite Dolly’s previous admission that “men are my weakness,” her husband is understanding and knows that she loves him deeply.
In her own words, Dolly shared, “Men are my weakness.
Short, fat, bald or skinny – I’ve had crushes on some very unusual men, but Carl knows I’ll always come home, and I’m not having s** with these people – I’m just flirting and having fun.
He’s not jealous, and I’m not jealous of him.
He knows I flirt.
He flirts too.”
Theirs is an open relationship, albeit not s**ually, with a deep love and trust for one another.
Keeping their marriage exciting and passionate is important to both Dolly and Carl.
Dolly revealed in a recent interview with E!
News that she likes to “dress up” for her husband daily.
She believes that maintaining her appearance is crucial because she wants to look her best for him.
According to her, looking good helps “keep things spicy” in their relationship.
Although their journey hasn’t been without challenges, such as Dolly’s admission of an “affair of the heart” in her 2017 book, their love for each other remains steadfast.
The affair occurred outside of their open and long-lasting marriage and was purely an emotional connection.
Despite this, Dolly and Carl continue to prioritize their love and keep their lives separate yet intertwined.
While the couple never had children together, Dolly shared that they had initially assumed they would.
However, they now believe that it was part of God’s plan for them not to have kids so that they could embrace the role of “everyone’s parents.”
Dolly sees herself as a mother figure to many and believes that everything happens for a reason.
Dolly and Carl’s enduring love story serves as an inspiration in the world of music and beyond.
Their commitment to each other, understanding, and ability to navigate challenges with grace are testaments to the strength of their relationship.
As Dolly once shared, “I didn’t choose this world, I chose you, and you chose that world.
But we can keep our lives separate and together.”
And that is exactly what they have done.
