Dolly Parton’s Husband Bought His Own Dollywood Ticket Because He Didn’t Want Special Treatment
The late Carl Dean’s sweet tradition proves how much he cared for the singer
Only a few weeks after the death of her beloved husband of over 50 years, Dolly Parton stepped out at the opening celebration of her revered theme park, Dollywood, as she does every year, putting on a brave face in the wake of the turmoil and grief she’s surely facing after Carl Dean’s passing at 82 years old. In true Dolly fashion, her vibrant personality and ever-present sense of humor shined through despite the sadness that has filled the last few days.
“I need to laugh. I need some fun, so I’m probably gonna be stupid. I’ve been crying enough the last week or two,” she shared with the crowd. While Dollywood is certainly a major part of the songstress’s life, first opening its doors back in 1961, Parton opened up about her late husband’s appreciation for the park as well in a recent conversation with Knox News after his passing.
Carl Dean did Dollywood his own way
Being the husband of the park’s namesake, you would think that Carl Dean would get the royal treatment anytime he visited—but according to Dolly, that wasn’t really his style. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering her husband was hardly ever seen by her side and chose to avoid the limelight that tended to follow his famous wife. However, this didn’t mean he avoided Dollywood and the fanfare of his spouse. Instead, he just pursued it in his own, much more lowkey way.
“He used to come to the park; he bought his own ticket—stood in line and got his ticket. He didn’t want somebody giving him a ticket ‘cause he was Dolly’s husband,” Parton shared with the publication. “Everybody thinks that’s the funniest thing.” Carl Dean wasn’t much for the rides and attractions, instead opting to nosh on some of the establishment’s mouthwatering treats and take in the park and crowds. That being said, he was always sure to report back to his missus with a few pointers and notes on improvements.
“He would say, ‘You need more bathrooms,’” Parton laughed fondly. “Or he would say, ‘You need to tell them this or that. It’s crowded over in that area. You might want to tell them they ought to do this or that.’” Though he never visited the park by her side, Carl Dean was always looking out for what the best moves might be for the establishment’s operation. “He wasn’t coming to criticize, but he would notice things and he would say, you might want to bring this to their attention.”
How Dolly Parton is coping after Carl Dean’s passing
For nearly 60 years, Dolly and Carl made the perfect pair, and adjusting to life without him over the last several weeks has been a difficult and painful ordeal for the 79-year-old musician. “I’ve been with him 60 years. So, I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close,” she shared. “I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him.”
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