Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, were married for 59 years. The two tied the knot on May 30, 1966, at a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia. The couple made a decision not to have kids in their marriage.

Throughout their 50-plus years of marriage, Dean was spotted in public only a couple of times as he stayed away from the public eye. Parton once said that the secret to her long marriage had been keeping her career and relationship separate.

Parton and Dean’s love story started in 1964 when the country singer had just moved to Nashville to pursue her singing and songwriting career. The legendary singer and her husband met at a laundromat. The handsome 22-year-old man and the gorgeous 18-year-old lady fell in love and never parted ways.

When the couple hit 51 years in marriage, Parton revealed the secret to their successful union. She said she did her best to leave her husband out of her business, keeping her marriage personal and sacred. Parton added that this move wasn’t her husband’s choice but hers because she loved him too much to expose him to the industry.

Parton also once responded to accusations that her husband was imaginary. She said many people assumed he didn’t exist because he wasn’t in the spotlight. The singer described her husband as a quiet and reserved person who would never get a minute of peace if he chose to expose himself to the industry.

The superstar said that while Dean chose to love her, he didn’t choose to be in the entertainment industry. Out of respect for her husband, Parton decided to keep him out of the limelight as much as she could. Parton described this choice as keeping their lives together and separate.

Parton said she didn’t think she would go on a full-blown music tour ever again.

The 80-year-old also joked that she told people the reason her marriage to Dean had lasted was because she was mostly out of the house. She said the fact that they weren’t in each other’s face all the time had enhanced their marriage. The couple also shared a great sense of humor, had lots of fun together, and had respect and admiration for each other.

Parton only had positive things to say about her husband. She was proud to have married a good man who understood her and wasn’t jealous of her. Dean wasn’t resentful of Parton’s career and fame, as he liked to hear about what she did. Parton realized that she’d never find these qualities in anybody else. So, she and her husband held on to each other and loved one another deeply.

A source close to Parton and Dean revealed that the couple were in their marriage for the long haul. The insider added that the two were perfect for each other as they got one another and had similar personalities. Parton and Dean were a team that adored each other, were committed to one another, and the singer knew she would always be there for her husband.

The “Wildflowers” singer opened up on the life her husband enjoyed out of the public eye. She revealed that the two engaged in numerous activities on their farm, where she also spent most of her time after having quit going on music tours.

Parton and Her Husband’s Life on Their Farm

Dean was never a fan of fame. He lived on a sprawling farm with Parton, having retired from his paving firm. The country singer said her husband was happy away from the public and taking care of their farm. Dean kept the fields mowed and the barn painted and worked on his farm equipment.

The “Steel Magnolias” actress was happiest when she spent time with her husband at their home, where she said they did “little things together,” like travel around town in their little RV.

Parton and Dean went past drive-through restaurants; they sight-saw in Tennessee and Kentucky and stayed over at motels with clean beds and bathrooms. “That’s how we live,” she confessed.

Despite having a reported net worth of $500 million, Parton just loved chilling at home with her husband, who didn’t care about being around anyone else but her. According to a source, the couple spent their 55th wedding anniversary at their home in Nashville, enjoying a nice and simple country dinner.

The insider said Parton and her husband didn’t do anything extravagant. They ate chicken and dumplings that Parton prepared, and for dessert, they had pecan ice cream, which was Dean’s favorite. The couple had a perfect night at their gazebo.

The couple had previously revealed that they had plans to renew their wedding vows on their 50th anniversary. The country singer said family and close friends would probably attend, and then the couple would go on a honeymoon where they went the first time they got married.