· dolly parton said the passing of her husband, carl dean , is “the hardest loss that anyone could ever have, to lose the person you love the most. ” parton , 79, honored her late husband while catching up with people for the publication’s cover story. Country music icon dolly parton majorly kept her relationship with longtime husband carl dean under wraps but theyve famously been in an ‘open’ marriage. Is dolly parton married? Although dolly and carl s personalities came across as an unlikely match, the country superstar has said that their differences are actually the secret to their long-lasting union. · for nearly 60 years, country superstar dolly parton was married to carl dean , a man who preferred to remain out of the spotlight. How did dolly parton and carl dean meet? · dolly parton s husband of nearly six decades, carl dean , has died. Are dolly parton and carl dean a good match? Here’s how they made it work. Their relationship was sacred and meant to remain just between her and carl. Who is dolly partons husband carl dean? · the death of parton ’s husband, in march, called rare attention to a steadfast union that the fame-friendly country star had kept private for decades. · while fans didnt know much about what went on behind closed doors with the long-time married couple, the country music legend wanted to keep it that way. Find out what the country icon has shared was the key to their long marriage.