Dolly Parton shares why bond with husband Carl Dean was 'so good' and how his death stalled her creativity

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dolly Parton is reflecting on the lasting connection she shared with her late husband Carl Dean, just months after his death.

The country legend, 79, opened up on 'Khloe in Wonder Land', Khloe Kardashian’s podcast, revealing how Dean’s death has affected her creativity and why their bond remained so strong over the decades.

Dolly Parton says she and Carl Dean were 'so different, but so similar'

Parton spoke about the balance that made her 61-year relationship with Dean work.

“We were different people. He loved music, but he was a loner,” said Parton on the July 9 episode.

“He did not want a bunch of people around him except me. Of course he had friends, but he was also the same way. He’d rather be at the barn, be on the farm all day, and if he was gonna go sell a loader or buy a loader or have somebody come work on one of his trucks or tractors, he’d have to let people in.”

She reflected on how their personalities complemented each other. “I really think that there’s just certain personalities that are great for each other. And we were together 61 years,” said Parton.

“We were just so different, but we were so similar. We were perfect, as far as the temperature in the house. We didn’t fight over that ‘cause we both were comfortable at the same thing. Just so many things we were compatible about, and we just got along great," she added.

Dolly Parton recalls Carl Dean's quiet nature and life outside the spotlight

Parton also talked about Dean's reclusive nature and his comfort in staying out of the public eye.

“I don’t know if any of you follow the signs, the Zodiac signs,” she said. “I’m Capricorn, and [he's a] Cancer, and those are supposed to be compatible. But he was a homebody.”

She recalled how Dean handled attention from her fans with humor.

“He’d be out mowing the yard on the tractor, and the fans would come by to see our house, and they’d say, ‘Are you Dolly Parton’s husband?’ And he’d say, ‘Do I look like I’d be Dolly Parton's husband?’ He’d have on his old straw hat and his coat,”  Parton said.

“I didn’t ever expose him to that,” she said, referring to the celebrity lifestyle. “But he was very proud of me. We got along great because we didn’t have nothing to fight over.”

Dolly Parton says they could talk all night or say just a few words

Despite the difference in their public lives, Parton said both she and Dean valued privacy.

“I have to be out in the public and I belong to the public, but I’m such a private person. And my husband was as well,” Parton said.

She explained how their quiet connection worked. “That was the thing with us, we were so good for each other because he’s a total loner,” she continued.

“But we could just be in the house all day and say two or three words — didn’t matter. Or we could talk all afternoon and lay in bed, talk at night in the dark," she added.

Dolly Parton says she’s ‘putting that all on hold’ after Carl Dean’s death

The 'Jolene' singer also revealed that grief has made it difficult for her to pursue new creative work. “My husband passed away three months ago… [There are] several things I have wanted to start, but I can’t do it,” she said.

“I will later,” she continued. “I’m just coming up with such wonderful beautiful ideas, but I think I won’t finish it. I can’t do it right now, because I got so many other things.”

Parton acknowledged that emotions have temporarily slowed her down. “I can’t afford the luxury of, you know, getting that emotional right now,” she added.

“There are times like that, things like that, that will stall you a little bit. But I’ll write something else though, if it comes. I’m just putting that all on hold,” Parton said.