Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, have been together for decades. While they seem like an unlikely pair — she embraces the spotlight while he shirks it — they work well together. Parton has spoken highly about her husband over the years, but the public rarely sees him. Her guitarist shared why he thinks Dean was such a good match for the singer.
Dolly Parton’s husband was a good match for her
Though the public does not see much of Dean, the people in Parton’s life do. Her guitarist, Don Roth, got to know Dean well as he met with the band on the road over the years. According to Roth, Parton appreciated the stability Dean brought to her life. He supported her life as a musician and was always home waiting for her when she returned from tour.
Dolly Parton | David Redfern/Redferns
Roth also believed that Dean...
Dolly Parton’s husband was a good match for her
Though the public does not see much of Dean, the people in Parton’s life do. Her guitarist, Don Roth, got to know Dean well as he met with the band on the road over the years. According to Roth, Parton appreciated the stability Dean brought to her life. He supported her life as a musician and was always home waiting for her when she returned from tour.
Dolly Parton | David Redfern/Redferns
Roth also believed that Dean...
- 5/14/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, have been married for nearly six decades. They met just as Parton was setting out to be a recording artist, and he has supported her from the sidelines through her fame. Dean never steps into the spotlight with his wife, so few people outside of the couple’s friends and family members know how they behave together. According to one of the few reporters who met him, Dean looked at her like she was the only woman in the world.
Dolly Parton’s husband looked at her adoringly
In the 1970s, reporter Alanna Nash flew to Nashville to write a feature on Parton. The country star practically never let people into her home, but she made a rare exception for Nash. This meant Nash had a chance to meet the elusive Dean. At this time, he stayed so far from the public eye...
Dolly Parton’s husband looked at her adoringly
In the 1970s, reporter Alanna Nash flew to Nashville to write a feature on Parton. The country star practically never let people into her home, but she made a rare exception for Nash. This meant Nash had a chance to meet the elusive Dean. At this time, he stayed so far from the public eye...
- 5/13/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, have been together for decades. Parton has spent a good deal of their married years on the road, touring and making movies. Many people have hardly even seen Dean, let alone witnessed the couple together. One of the people who has, Parton’s former guitarist Don Roth, shared why he thought they were a perfect pair.
Dolly Parton cracked a joke to her band when her husband visited
After attending an industry event with Parton, Dean informed her that he didn’t want to be a part of her life in show business. Still, he would visit her when she had shows within driving distance of their home.
“When we’d be playing some place, like in Missouri, he’d drive up and Dolly would jump off the bus when she saw the car there,” Roth said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
Dolly Parton cracked a joke to her band when her husband visited
After attending an industry event with Parton, Dean informed her that he didn’t want to be a part of her life in show business. Still, he would visit her when she had shows within driving distance of their home.
“When we’d be playing some place, like in Missouri, he’d drive up and Dolly would jump off the bus when she saw the car there,” Roth said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
- 5/12/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton cracks jokes and laughs so often that it isn’t out of the ordinary to hear her giggle on her records. She is quick to poke fun at herself and is happy to banter with interviewers whenever she gets the chance. There are some types of humor that Parton does not like, though. Her guitarist said Parton would cringe whenever she heard one.
Dolly Parton didn’t appreciate jokes about religion
Guitarist Don Roth traveled with Parton on tour and got to know her well. She was generally playful, but there were some forms of humor she would not tolerate. He learned this when he made a joke in front of her.
“I’m relatively sacrilegious and would make Easter jokes about Jesus turning water into wine by palming a grape fizzy, and she would just cringe and say, ‘Oh, please, Don, don’t,’” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
Dolly Parton didn’t appreciate jokes about religion
Guitarist Don Roth traveled with Parton on tour and got to know her well. She was generally playful, but there were some forms of humor she would not tolerate. He learned this when he made a joke in front of her.
“I’m relatively sacrilegious and would make Easter jokes about Jesus turning water into wine by palming a grape fizzy, and she would just cringe and say, ‘Oh, please, Don, don’t,’” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
- 5/9/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the 1970s, Dolly Parton embarked on lengthy tour legs with members of her band. They traveled together by bus and spent weeks at a time away from home. Though Parton was married by this point, it didn’t take long before people began to whisper rumors of her flirtations with members of her band. Her former guitarist spoke about the affectionate way she treated people.
Dolly Parton was affectionate with members of her band
When Barbara Walters interviewed Parton in 1977, she asked the singer if there was any “hanky-panky” on the tour bus.
“Well, that depends on what you mean by hanky-panky,” Parton responded, per the book Dolly by Alanna Nash. “We do a lot of celebratin’ on the bus. Let’s put it that way. If there’s really something to celebrate, if we want to stop and buy some wine or some champagne, if there’s somethin’ really nice.
Dolly Parton was affectionate with members of her band
When Barbara Walters interviewed Parton in 1977, she asked the singer if there was any “hanky-panky” on the tour bus.
“Well, that depends on what you mean by hanky-panky,” Parton responded, per the book Dolly by Alanna Nash. “We do a lot of celebratin’ on the bus. Let’s put it that way. If there’s really something to celebrate, if we want to stop and buy some wine or some champagne, if there’s somethin’ really nice.
- 5/8/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt may have collaborated on two albums, but the former wasn’t sure she fit in with Ronstadt’s friend group. Parton has been involved with the music industry since she was a child and rose to major fame in adulthood. Still, she didn’t feel that she fit in with a crowd at Ronstadt’s house.
Dolly Parton didn’t feel she fit in at Linda Ronstadt’s party
By the end of the 1970s, Parton, who had solidly established herself in the country music scene, crossed over to mainstream success. Through all of this, she maintained a shimmering vitality and sincerity. As she achieved increasing levels of fame, she stayed true to her roots. For this reason, she became slightly uncomfortable when surrounded by other celebrities.
“I can tell you one thing,” her guitarist Don Roth said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
Dolly Parton didn’t feel she fit in at Linda Ronstadt’s party
By the end of the 1970s, Parton, who had solidly established herself in the country music scene, crossed over to mainstream success. Through all of this, she maintained a shimmering vitality and sincerity. As she achieved increasing levels of fame, she stayed true to her roots. For this reason, she became slightly uncomfortable when surrounded by other celebrities.
“I can tell you one thing,” her guitarist Don Roth said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
- 5/7/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the 1970s, Dolly Parton embarked on long stretches of tours with her band. While she paid well, the work was hard and took people away from home for weeks at a time. Her band had a high turnover rate, though not because people tired of the schedule. Instead, Parton fired many of her band members in search of the perfect lineup.
Dolly Parton’s band didn’t feel safe in their jobs
As Parton worked to cross over from a strictly country audience to a mainstream one, she tried to make sure she had the perfect band to back her. This became a major point of concern for the people who joined her on tour. Her former guitarist, Don Roth, said Parton struggled to find people because of her reputation.
“First of all, everybody’s afraid they’re gonna get fired; there’s no stability,” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
Dolly Parton’s band didn’t feel safe in their jobs
As Parton worked to cross over from a strictly country audience to a mainstream one, she tried to make sure she had the perfect band to back her. This became a major point of concern for the people who joined her on tour. Her former guitarist, Don Roth, said Parton struggled to find people because of her reputation.
“First of all, everybody’s afraid they’re gonna get fired; there’s no stability,” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
- 5/5/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton has been with her husband for decades, and she has joked about her flirtations with other men for nearly as long as they’ve been together. She danced around rumors of affairs for years. Her husband, Carl Dean, keeps his goings-on out of the public eye, but he once called Parton to inform her that he was on a date. Parton was well acquainted with his partner.
Dolly Parton’s husband took her former teacher on a date
Parton’s career took her away from home often, leaving Dean alone. This meant that when people came to town, it may be up to him alone to entertain them. Once, while she was on tour, Parton’s first grade teacher called on the couple.
“I go to Nashville about twice a year and Dolly’s folks were always saying I should call her when I came down,” her former teacher,...
Dolly Parton’s husband took her former teacher on a date
Parton’s career took her away from home often, leaving Dean alone. This meant that when people came to town, it may be up to him alone to entertain them. Once, while she was on tour, Parton’s first grade teacher called on the couple.
“I go to Nashville about twice a year and Dolly’s folks were always saying I should call her when I came down,” her former teacher,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton’s former guitarist, Don Roth, traveled with the singer for weeks at a time as she toured. He grew familiar with her work ethic, sense of humor, and flirtatious nature. He also got to know her husband, Carl Dean. Roth said that while he was well aware of the rumors about Parton’s infidelity, he thought her sense of right and wrong was so strong that she never would have cheated on him.
Dolly Parton’s guitarist said she was obsessed with her morals
For much of her career, Parton was the subject of affair rumors. People wondered if she was romantically involved with many of her professional connections, like band members or co-stars. Parton flirted with these rumors, believing the media attention would give a boost to her various projects. While she rarely confirmed or denied having affairs, Roth felt confident that she never had.
“[S]he’s totally loyal to Carl Dean,...
Dolly Parton’s guitarist said she was obsessed with her morals
For much of her career, Parton was the subject of affair rumors. People wondered if she was romantically involved with many of her professional connections, like band members or co-stars. Parton flirted with these rumors, believing the media attention would give a boost to her various projects. While she rarely confirmed or denied having affairs, Roth felt confident that she never had.
“[S]he’s totally loyal to Carl Dean,...
- 5/1/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton met her best friend, Judy Ogle, when they were both children. They remained friends through school and into Parton’s years of fame, at which time Ogle joined her on the road. After a while, though, this started to cause problems between them. According to some close to the singer, Parton had to make the difficult decision to let her best friend go. Here’s how this impacted their relationship.
Dolly Parton had to tell her best friend they could no longer work together
In 1977, Ogle, who had been helping Parton keep her career in order, abruptly returned home. Members of Parton’s band weren’t sure if she’d quit, or if she’d been fired.
One member of Parton’s band heard Ogle quit because she was tired of life away from home. Others wondered if Ogle’s position had become superfluous when Parton signed with new management,...
Dolly Parton had to tell her best friend they could no longer work together
In 1977, Ogle, who had been helping Parton keep her career in order, abruptly returned home. Members of Parton’s band weren’t sure if she’d quit, or if she’d been fired.
One member of Parton’s band heard Ogle quit because she was tired of life away from home. Others wondered if Ogle’s position had become superfluous when Parton signed with new management,...
- 4/27/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.