4 Chapters in Dolly Parton’s Life After Husband Carl Dean’s Death

Dolly Parton‘s enduring love story with her late husband, Carl Dean, has been in the spotlight after Dean’s death. Dean’s will was recently revealed seven months after his death, showing the trust and care the couple put into planning for one another. Parton is taking a healing pause from music, telling fans she’s putting new projects on hold as she processes her loss after decades of devotion to Dean.

She also opened up about why she fiercely protected their privacy, saying Dean never wanted to be part of the celebrity world, but was always her biggest supporter behind the scenes. Drawing on her own recent heartbreak, Parton shared moving advice with fellow artist Kelly Clarkson, encouraging gratitude for cherished memories and honoring lost loved ones, like Clarkson’s ex-husband. Through all of it, Dolly leans on the values she gained from her big, loving family — staying true to herself and holding close those she loves most.

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists from Us Weekly.