Who Is Carl Thomas Dean? Everything to Know About Dolly Parton’s Husband

Carl Thomas Dean is a retired businessman and husband to Dolly Parton, a multiple award-winning American country music singer, songwriter, actress, multi-instrumentalist, and humanitarian. Carl is a very reserved man and loves to live a simple life away from the media. Although he managed to maintain a reasonable level of privacy, the world got to know him as the husband of the popular singer, however, a few details about him have still remained unknown.

Carl is a Reserved and Successful Businessman

Born 79 years ago in Nashville, Tennessee to Edgar Henry Dean and Virginia Bates, Carl might not have gotten as famous as he is today if not for his marriage to Dolly. Carl Thomas Dean and his wife Dolly Parton are the complete opposite of one another. While Dolly is an entertainer and does not mind fame, media attention, and all the baggage that comes with it, Carl dislikes everyone being in his business or having to deal with the drama of the media and knowing or being known by too many people.

Because the businessman is very quiet and reserved, he fears that if he dares to step into the spotlight even for a minute, he may never get his peace back, and he is not exactly wrong about that. The singer’s husband does not shy away only from the public, but from people generally, even in his already private life. Dolly revealed that he is usually not interested in being around anyone else but her.

Despite being very reserved, Carl Tomas Dean was able to make a name for himself in the business sector as far back as when he was just in his early twenties. For many years, the industrious man owned an asphalt laying company in Nashville, his hometown. The company was well-known and successful. It continued to do well even to his retirement. The asphalt laying company is all that is known by the media about Carl’s business.

Carl Thomas Dean and Dolly Parton Have Known Each Other for 58 Years

The couple met for the first time in 1964 outside the Wishy-Washy Laundromat. Dolly Parton had just moved from Sevierville, Tennessee to Music City. She met the love of her life on her first day in the city and the rest is history. She was only eighteen years old when they met, and Thomas was twenty-one. Carl spotted Dolly as he drove by in his white pickup truck. His immediate two thoughts were that he was going to marry her and that she is beautiful. He flirted with her a little during their first meeting and then asked her out on a date.

On the 30th of May, 1966, two years after their first meeting, the couple got married in a church wedding. At this time, Carl was twenty-three years old while Dolly was twenty years old. They wedded in a Baptist church in Ringgold, Georgia. It was a very small gathering with only the couple, the preacher, and Dolly’s mom, Avie Lee, in attendance.

In the year she got married, the singer was beginning to gain recognition in the industry. She had been recognized for singing the demo “Put it Off Until Tomorrow” for Bill Phillips, a country music artist. Also, her first solo hit, “Dumb Blonde” was starting to get massive airplay. And because she was starting to gain popularity, her record label was worried that getting married may be a hindrance to any further growth and they wanted her to think about her decision, but she said that she was not waiting anymore.

Carl Thomas Dean’s Lifestyle Makes People Doubt That Dolly Has A Husband

While Parton believes that their opposing personalities are what has helped her marriage to Dean stand the test of time, some people are beginning to wonder if there is any marriage at all because they are hardly seen together. The last time the duo was seen together at any of Dolly’s events was after their wedding in 1966. The singer was to attend a dinner to celebrate her first major hit in the industry. The song, which she had done for Bill, and which was a number one, had become the BMI’s Song of the Year. To celebrate her milestone, the newlyweds got dressed and drove to the dinner.

After the dinner and awards, Carl declared that he was not interested in getting entangled in her entertainment business. According to the country song musician, her husband turned to her after the dinner and told her that he was happy for her, and wants her to become everything she desires, but she should never invite him to any of such occasions again.
That was the last time he showed up with her at any event relating to entertainment. So, while millions of people will give up anything to watch Parton perform at an event, her husband will give up anything to stay away from such events and stay home. Apparently, giving her all the support he can from there. His decision to stay away from the spotlight has caused people to doubt if they are a couple.

In one of her interviews, Parton acknowledged that she is aware of the speculations making the rounds, but she had to say that it is her husband’s personality. He is quiet and naturally prefers staying in places where he is comfortable. She also mentioned he thinks stepping out may cause him to lose his peace, and he will not like that. Despite their differences, the couple have been married for 56 years. This simply means that their different lifestyles have made them stronger together and not the other way round, so fans have no reason to be concerned.

In 2016, they celebrated their fiftieth anniversary in grand style. Although they did not want a big audience, they made their fiftieth vow renewal something to remember. The singer and her husband dressed up stunningly, and the little ceremony took place in the chapel at their place with family and friends as their guests.

The Couple Have No Kids

Although Carl Thomas Dean and Dolly Parton would have loved to have children, they had to embrace fate and still make the best out of life regardless. Their inability to have children is because Parton had undergone a partial hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and part of the cervix) after suffering from endometriosis. She had the surgery in 1984 and fell into a depression to the point of contemplating suicide.

As they got older, she and her husband began to see that it was probably the will of God for things to happen the way they did, she revealed. If she had children, she would have been a great mother though she would not have been able to achieve all she has achieved in her career. Also, she considers every child to be hers and this inspired her to establish Imagination Library, a non-profit that provides free books to preschoolers. Regardless of not having their own children, the couple are happy together and have helped in training their nephews and nieces.

The Secret Of Thomas Dean’s Long Union With Dolly Parton

Parton revealed that the little secret behind their successful marriage is doing little things to keep the spark. Because they are two people of opposing personalities, they almost do not predict what plans they have for each other. Sometimes, she plans simple surprise picnics to beautiful places, and other times they just find an inn where they can go and have fun. Just anything to keep the spark alive.

Also, because they are both independent people, they do not feel threatened by their differences. The country singer loves traveling, unlike her husband who prefers to stay home. When she is away, they both do just fine till she comes back, and they continue to enjoy every moment together.