Dolly Parton shares how faith helps her cope with loss of husband Carl Dean: 'I see him every day'

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dolly Parton is leaning on the one thing that’s always anchored her faith as she navigates life without her beloved husband Carl Dean, who died in March at the age of 82.

The 79-year-old singer spoke openly about the grief of losing her partner of nearly six decades and the spiritual strength that carries her forward, Fox News reported.

Dolly Parton opens up about grief after losing husband Carl Dean

“I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that I’m going to see him again someday,” Parton shared. “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.”

The legendary artist revealed that even though Carl’s physical presence is gone, she feels him all around her. “I really feel his presence. 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.”

The 'Jolene' singer reflected honestly, saying, “You just kind of have to learn to kind of make new plans, but that’s the hardest part.”

Parton and Dean’s extraordinary relationship began in a Nashville laundromat in 1964. Two years later, they married and went on to spend 60 deeply private, love-filled years together.

Dolly Parton praises Carl Dean as her biggest supporter

Parton shared that her late husband, Carl Dean, was always her biggest cheerleader, someone who truly understood her drive and dreams.

“I just think that I’ve always had dreams, and I’m always working. My husband understood that,” she told the AP. “Carl knew that better than anybody, and he was all about it. He was very proud of me.”

Now, as she grapples with the void Dean left behind, Parton says she channels that love into her work, “So when I did lose him, I just thought, ‘Well, I’m going to take all of that energy and I’m just going to put that back into other things, and I’ll keep him ever-present in everything that I do.”

Faith has long been Dolly Parton's anchor through life’s ups and downs

This isn’t the first time Parton has turned to her faith in times of darkness. From personal health crises to near-suicidal moments in the 1980s, she has credited prayer and divine intervention for pulling her back from the edge.

In a 2018 interview with Closer Weekly, Dolly Parton opened up on how her faith became her anchor during some of the hardest seasons of her life.

During the early '80s, she faced serious gynecological problems that led to a partial hysterectomy in 1984. Doctors told her she wouldn’t be able to have children with Dean.

“It was a really bad time,” she recalled. “Sometimes God just has to smack you down. He was almost saying, ‘Sit your pretty little a-- down because we have to deal with some stuff.’”

Dolly Parton went through a deeply difficult period in her life, battling a two-year-long depression that eventually led her to pull back from work so she could focus on healing. During that time, she was also wrestling with a heavy sense of guilt over developing feelings for someone outside her relationship, something that shook her to the core.

The emotional weight became so overwhelming that she found herself in a dark place, even questioning whether she wanted to go on. 

“I looked at it a long time,” said Parton “Then, just as I picked it up, just to hold it and look at it for a moment, our little dog, Popeye, came running up the stairs,” she said. “The tap-tap of his paws jolted me back to reality. I suddenly froze and I put the gun down.”

It was during that dark chapter that Parton turned to prayer, desperately reaching out to God for strength and guidance.

She even credits her dog, Popeye, as an unexpected source of comfort and maybe something more. “I kind of believe Popeye was a spiritual messenger from God,” she reflected. “I don’t think I’d have done it, killed myself, but I can’t say for sure. Now that I’ve gone through that terrible moment, I can certainly understand the possibilities, even for someone solid like me, if the pain gets bad enough.”

Parton firmly believes it was her faith that ultimately helped hold her marriage together. “A belief in God is essential,” she shared, noting that prayer is a constant in her life, something she turns to every single day without fail.

The couple even built a small chapel on their Tennessee farm, where Parton still spends time writing and praying.

Dolly Parton shared emotional tribute following husband Carl Dean’s death 

On March 3, Dolly Parton took to Instagram to announce the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in a heartfelt message that touched fans around the world. The '9 to 5' singer reflected on their six decades together, expressing profound gratitude for the love and support she has received during this difficult time.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” Parton wrote. “Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

She continued with a message of thanks to her family, friends, and fans. “Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you’ve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl.”

Parton assured her followers that their kindness meant the world to her. “He is in God’s arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you,” she added.

Just days later, on March 7, Parton unveiled a new song titled 'If You Hadn’t Been There', dedicated to Dean. Alongside a nostalgic photo of the couple, she shared the story of their enduring love.

“I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old,” she wrote. “We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him.”