Dolly Parton is currently promoting her Southern-inspired frozen meals that just hit stores, along with celebrating the 40th anniversary season of Dollywood, and a new, soon-to-be Broadway show. The 79-year-old icon has kept up her signature fast-paced schedule, showing no signs of slowing down.
However, the country legend recently opened up about the personal pain she’s been carrying following the death of her beloved husband, Carl Dean. Dean passed away earlier this year on March 3 at the age of 82. Though the couple kept their relationship largely private, Parton often expressed how much love and support she received from him throughout their 58-year marriage.
Dolly Parton: ‘He Was at Peace’
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Parton shared that despite his passing, she still feels Dean’s presence. She said she believes he’s cheering her on and pushing her to keep going.
“I see him every day in my memories and in my heart, and in all the things that we used to do and all the things that we’ve built together,” she said. “You just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans — but that’s the hardest part.”
She added, “I just try to go on, because I know I have to. He was ill for quite a while, and part of me was at peace that he was at peace and not suffering anymore. But that still doesn’t make up for the loss and the loneliness of it.”
Despite the grief, Parton expressed gratitude for her work, saying her busy schedule gives her an outlet and purpose. “I just think that I’ve always had dreams and I’m always working,” she said. “My husband understood that. Carl knew that better than anybody and he was all about it. He was very proud of me.”
She added that she tries to keep Dean’s memory alive in everything she creates. “My husband always said, ‘If anybody was ever born to be a star, it’s you,’ because he saw me loving what I do — it’s playtime for me. But I take it very seriously.”
New Projects: Book Release and Broadway Show
Alongside her food line and Dollywood festivities, Parton is releasing a new book titled “Star of the Show,” inspired by a song she wrote years ago. The book shares insights into her life on stage and the many years she’s spent on the road.
“All the behind the scenes and all the people that I’ve met, and all of the things that happen when you’re traveling like that as I have for all of these years,” she said of the inspiration behind the project.
Fans will also get a chance to see Parton’s life story come to life on stage in “Dolly: An Original Musical,” a new Broadway-bound production featuring her classic hits and newly written songs. The show will premiere at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University in Nashville before heading to Broadway in New York next year.
Even after decades in the spotlight, Parton shows no signs of stepping back.
“I don’t think about my life in terms of ‘superstar.’ I’m just a workin’ girl,” she said. “I always say — and it’s the truth — that I am a workhorse that looks like a show horse. But I gotta keep it all up and I enjoy all of it.”
“I take it very seriously.”
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Dolly Parton Opens Up About Carl Dean’s Death and Her Healing: ‘He Was at Peace’