Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The country legend opens up about how her faith in God provides strength and comfort as she navigates life and loss after many years of marriage.
Dolly Parton has opened up about relying on her faith as she copes with the loss of her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the 79-year-old country music icon shared how her belief in God has helped her manage the grief since Dean passed away in March at age 82.
“I’m a person of faith, and I truly believe that I will see him again someday,” Parton said. She added that she feels close to him every day through memories, their shared experiences, and everything they built together. “You have to learn to make new plans, but that’s the hardest part.”
Though Dean is gone, the Jolene singer said she senses his spirit remains near. “I really feel his presence,” she said. “I just keep going because I know I have to. He had been ill for a long time, and part of me was at peace knowing he was no longer suffering. But that doesn’t lessen the pain and loneliness.”
Parton explained that Dean was always her biggest supporter and emphasized that her future ambitions remain unchanged despite her loss. “I’ve always had dreams and stayed busy. Carl understood that better than anyone and was very proud of me,” she said. “Losing him made me want to channel all that energy into other things and keep him present in everything I do.”
Faith has long been a cornerstone in Parton’s life. Raised in a deeply religious Christian household in rural Tennessee, her grandfather, the Rev. Jake Owens, was a Pentecostal preacher. Parton has often spoken about how her faith grounds her and influences her music. In 1971, she released her first gospel album, The Golden Streets of Glory, featuring songs like “Yes I See God,” “I Believe,” and “Lord Hold My Hand.”
In a 2018 interview with Closer Weekly, Parton revealed how faith helped her through tough times. In the early 1980s, she struggled with gynecological health issues for about three years, culminating in a partial hysterectomy in 1984. She was told she wouldn’t be able to have children with Dean, which was a devastating blow.
“It was a really difficult time,” Parton recalled. “Sometimes God just has to knock you down. It was like He was saying, ‘Sit your pretty little butt down, because we have to deal with some things.’”
During that period, Parton battled a two-year depression and reduced her work commitments to recover. She also wrestled with guilt over feelings of attraction toward another man, which deeply troubled her.
She admitted to contemplating suicide. “I looked at it for a long time,” she said, describing how she once picked up a gun to consider ending her life. But at that moment, her dog Popeye’s footsteps startled her, pulling her back from the brink. “I froze and put the gun down.”
That incident sparked a turning point, leading her to pray and seek God’s help. “I believe Popeye was a spiritual messenger from God,” Parton reflected. “I don’t think I would have gone through with it, but I can’t say for sure. After that terrible moment, I understand how even someone strong like me can be pushed to the edge when the pain gets overwhelming.”
Parton emphasized that her faith in God was the foundation that sustained her marriage.
“A belief in God is absolutely essential,” she said, noting that she never misses her daily prayers.
The couple even built a small chapel on their Tennessee farm, which became a special place for both of them.
“She spends a lot of time there whenever she’s home,” a friend told Closer Weekly. “It’s not just for prayer — she often writes spiritual songs there. Carl also visits, and it’s their peaceful spot for reflection, prayer, and gratitude.”
According to the friend, their love only deepened over the years.
“There’s still a strong passion between them,” the insider shared. “Dolly enjoys cooking for Carl, and he continues to write her love poems. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, they see their relationship as truly meant to be.”
Another friend added, “Dolly always lets God’s guidance lead her life, and she believes that God intended for her to be with Carl.”
