Instagram/Dolly Parton & Carl Dean Music Dolly Parton reflects on 60 years of marriage to late husband Carl Dean, sharing emotional memories and how his loss has impacted her motivation to create ne... May 5, 2026 AceShowbiz - Dolly Parton has been a defining figure in the music industry for nearly six decades, rising to fame in the 1960s and becoming a country music legend with timeless hits such as "Jolene" and "9 to 5." Alongside her remarkable career, she shared a private, enduring marriage with her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, a retired businessman.