Husband of Dolly Parton, Known for Privacy, Found Ways to Secretly Visit Dollywood
Feelin' like you're steppin' into a Smoky Mountains wonderland with Dolly herself guideing you through Dollywood? Well, that ain't exactly how it was with Dolly Parton's hubby, Carl Dean.
On March 14, Dolly made a boomerang-worthy comeback at Dollywood's 40th season kickoff - her first public appearance since Carl's 2025 departure. They'd been married for almost six decades, but ol' Carl was a shy one, keepin' his public appearances minimal. It was a love story for the books; they met at a laundromat in Nashville in '64, young Dolly just startin' her music career.
Dolly, as reported by Knox News, gave a heartfelt thanks to the crowd for their condolences and encouragement, sayin', "I will always love him, and I miss him." With teary eyes, but ready to find some laughs, Dolly admitted she needed some fun, "I've been cryin' enough the last week or two."
In a chat with Knox News, Dolly shared there was a hole in her heart from losin' him. "I'm at peace that he's at peace," she said, "but that don't keep me from missin' him and lovin' him."
Mysterious as ever, Carl seemed to prefer stayin' incognito at the park, buyin' his own ticket and makin' his way in. Dolly told Knox News, "He never joined me for Dollywood events or to check on park projects, but he kept an eye on things, always offerin' suggestions."
When it came to park snacks, Carl had a sweet tooth and couldn't resist Dolly's famous funnel cakes. As for the rides, he liked to walk around and take is all in, not criticizin', just observin' what could be improved for the guests.
Dolly shared that if she were to spend a day at Dollywood, she'd do it like Carl. "I'd just walk around, lookin' at everything," she said.
Now that's what we call bein' a secret shopper! But let's be clear, Dolly's dedicated her life to makin' Dollywood a blast for everyone, even though we don't quite know ol' Carl's take on the park.
Southern Living might find it interesting to delve into Dolly Parton's personal account of her husband's visits to Dollywood, a unique perspective on the culture and lifestyle of celebrities. After Carl Dean's departure in March, news outlets reported that Dolly made a poignant comeback at Dollywood's 40th season kickoff, sharing stories about Carl's quiet existence at the theme park. Despite his preference for incognito visits, Dolly shared that he had a sweet tooth for her famous funnel cakes and walked around, offering suggestions and observing potential improvements for guests, much like a secret shopper.
