Dolly Parton Leans on Faith after Husband’s Death: ‘I’m Going to See Him Again’

Beloved country music star Dolly Parton says she is drawing strength from her faith in the wake of her husband Carl Dean's passing, holding to the belief that she'll see him again in heaven. Dean, a retired businessman who ran an asphalt paving company in Nashville, passed away in March at the age of 82. Though he shunned the spotlight, Dean inspired much of her music—including the iconic hit Jolene, which was sparked by a flirtatious bank teller who enjoyed conversations with him.

"I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I'm going to see him again someday," Parton told the Associated Press. "And 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. But you just kind of have to learn...make new plans. But that's the hardest part is breaking routines and patterns and habits."

Parton takes solace in knowing that he's in a better place.

"I just try to go on because I know I have to. And 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," she added.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Associated Press, Parton discussed her plans for the future and reflected on the 40th anniversary of her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood.

"One of the things they did for the 40th anniversary was put a big sign up on the hill there above Dollywood that says 'Dollywood' like the Hollywood sign," she said. "Years ago, when I thought, 'Well, someday I'm going to have my own theme park and I'm gonna change that H to a D and have Dollywood.' So, they finally, after 40 years, put that sign up, even though I've talked about it for years. So, we've got a lot of wonderful things planned for the whole season that's celebrating the 40th anniversary."

"It seems just like a few years back, but it's like everything else: I was with Carl for 60 years, and Dollywood's 40 years old. And that's just hard to believe because I'm only 27," she added, laughing.

Parton will release a new book, Star of the Show: My Life on Stage, in November. She's also the subject of a new musical, Dolly: An Original Musical, which opens in Nashville on July 18.

"I've written a lot of original songs for it. Of course, it'll have the big hits that are woven into the story. And it's just about my life, from the time I was little until up through now. It's going to be at the Fisher Center of Performing Arts at Belmont University (in Nashville). Then, once that has its run through the end of August, we take it to New York to open on Broadway next year."

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Originally published May 30, 2025.