Dolly Parton Says Songwriting Has Been Put “On Hold” After Husband’s Passing

Dolly Parton’s Husband, Carl Dean, Passed Award In March 2025

Dolly Parton met Carl Dean at a laundromat within the first 24 hours of her moving to Nashville in 1964. Two years later, they were married. He is a self-described “loner,” famously never saw Parton perform live. Carl lived a very private life, which Dolly did too when she was off stage. In fact, there are very few public photos of them together.

The pair was married for 59 years, and together for 61, when he passed away in March 2025. In the announcement of his passing, Dolly wrote, “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.”

RELATED: Listen To Dolly Parton’s Touching Song About Her Husband, Carl Dean

Since his passing, Parton’s appearances have been few and far between. She did celebrate her theme park, Dollywood’s 40th Anniversary, but she chose to forgo the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary special. To honor her, over 50 Opry members publicly sent their condolences and performed “I Will Always Love You.”

Dolly Parton was a guest on Khloe Kardashian’s Khloe In Wonderland podcast on Thursday, July 1

Parton sat down with reality star an entrepreneur Khloe Kardashian, where she talked about her faith, fame, music, and of course, her late husband, Carl.

 

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The link up might seem random to some people, but the two businesswomen have collaborated before. Recently, Parton had her own “limited-edition collaboration” with Good American, Kardashian’s jean company. Parton’s collection is called Dolly’s Joleans.

 

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During the hour-long conversation, Parton expressed no desire in retiring. In fact, she said she hates it when artists go on “farewell tours,” especially when the tour lasts for years and then they never actually end up retiring. Even though she will never retire, she is putting a pause on her songwriting for a very emotional reason.

“There are a few things now that my husband passed away a few months ago, when you asked me if there were things that I started, but haven’t finished. Several things I have wanted to start, but I can’t do it,” she said. “I will later, I’m just coming up with such wonderful beautiful ideas, but I think I won’t finish it. I can’t do it right now, because I got so many other things. I can’t afford the luxury of, you know, getting that emotional right now. There are times like that, things like that, that will stall you a little bit. But I’ll write something else though, if it comes. I’m just putting [songwriting] on hold.”

Songwriting if her “joy and happiness,” and she says she is so lucky that it’s her job. For now, she won’t be writing, but that doesn’t mean she will stop for good.

“I am such a private person, and my husband was as well. We were so good for each other ’cause he’s a total loner,” she told Kardashian. “But we could just be in the house all day and just say two or three words, it didn’t matter. Or we could talk all afternoon and lay in bed and talk at night in the dark, but you have to be comfortable with yourself.”

It’s clear Dolly misses her husband, but is trying to stay strong amid all her other business ventures and projects she has going on. While speaking of their relationship, Dolly slowed down when she said this next sentence: “We were so perfect even we were so different. We were just compatible.”

Following Carl’s death, Dolly released a song called “If You Hadn’t Been there,” and dedicated it to him.

Watch her full interview with Kardashian in the video below.