At 77, diminutive Dolly Parton has a larger-than-life persona that has endeared her to millions of fans across the globe throughout her extremely successful, decades-long career.
The multi award-winning country music icon has 49 studio albums, a string of Hall of Fame honours, hundreds of performances, and movies to her name and is no stranger to the red carpet.
However she admits that the one person you’ll never see beside her in public is her husband of over 50 years, Carl Dean.
Speaking in the final episode of her Apple Music Show, What Would Dolly Do?, the legendary singer and actress explained, “Carl has never been in the limelight at all, never wanted to be in it. He don’t like it. He went to one thing with me early on, when we first married, to a BMI Song of the Year [event].”
She admitted that his experience at the event wasn’t a positive one.
“He came out there taking off his tuxedo, his tie and all that and said, ‘Don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going.’ I never asked him and he never did,” she said.
Despite her husband’s reluctance to partake in the limelight with her, Dolly says their marriage works very well and she can rely on him to be honest.
“He’s very honest,” Parton revealed.
“We have such a great relationship. I know not to ask him if I don’t want an honest answer.”
Using her latest album, Rockstar, as an example, the Jolene singer elaborated that he told her it was “pretty good”.
“That would be like anybody else saying, ‘Oh, that’s best I ever heard. That’s just so fantastic,” she added.
While Dolly has achieved fame and fortune on an astronomical level, the blonde bombshell is showing no sign of slowing down.
With her new rock album under her tiny belt, the singer-songwriter revealed where she is headed next in the world of music.
“One of the things I want to do next and to leave for my legacy is that ultimate great gospel album, and done up in the same way that I’ve done this rock album,” Parton said.
“Really great productions, whether they be small or large, and to bring in some of the great people that have grown up in the gospel field or some of the people that are famous in the gospel field.
“To do that great uplifting album … gospel might not be the right word, although we will do gospel in it, but more uplifting, inspirational songs. I want to leave that behind.”