“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean’s love story is one for the ages.
When 18-year-old Dolly moved to Nashville to pursue music, she told herself she would not be distracted by a relationship. Despite her resolve, she met her future husband in a laundromat on her very first day in town.
After dating for about two years, the lovebirds eloped on May 30, 1966. Dolly and Carl were married for nearly 59 years until Carl passed away on March 3rd, 2025, at the age of 82. With the news, Dolly wrote:
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”
While few had the opportunity to meet the reclusive Carl, he played a major role in the life of one of country music’s most successful female artists. The couple were opposites: Dolly is outgoing and ambitious, and Carl was reserved and a “homebody.”
The Country Music Hall of Famer explained that the dynamic worked for them because “we both do different things and it’s exciting when we are together.” She added:
“It is important to have someone there in your corner and you know they’ll love you for just who you are. There’s a great comfort in knowing that someone loves you exactly for who you are—because he fell in love with me before I became a star.”
In addition to being a constant support and a loving partner, Carl inspired his superstar wife’s work. Read on to learn more about, and listen to, six songs that Dolly Parton wrote for her husband.
Bonus fact: Dolly Parton is credited as the sole songwriter for all of the following songs.
“Jolene” – 1973
Arguably one of Dolly Parton’s most iconic songs, “Jolene,” was released as the first single and the title track on her album of the same name. Rolling Stone eventually named it the greatest country song of all time.
Some fans may be surprised to learn that “Jolene” was inspired by a true story. In an interview with NPR, Dolly told the story of a red-headed bank teller who was a little too fond of Carl.
“She got this terrible crush on my husband. And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention.”
While the encounter never truly threatened Dolly and Carl’s relationship, it inspired the songstress to create a dramatized version of the story and set it to music.
“Say Forever You’ll Be Mine” – 1975
Say Forever You’ll Be Mine was the twelfth collaborative album released by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner. The title track was reportedly written during the early “honeymoon” years of Dolly’s marriage to Carl. The chorus croons:
“Darling, I won’t promise you
That we’ll be happy all the time
But forever I am yours
Say forever you’ll be mine.”
Dolly re-recorded a stripped-down version of the song in 2016 for the album Pure & Simple, with just an acoustic guitar and a fiddle as accompaniment. Listen to the original duet version below!
“Marry Me” – 2001
The bluegrass-inspired song “Marry Me” pays homage to Dolly’s Appalachian roots. It was released on the album Little Sparrow, which was dedicated to Dolly’s father, Lee, who died the year prior in 2000.
“Marry Me” is a lively and hopeful tune and is sung from the perspective of a woman head over heels for her partner.
“From Here to the Moon and Back” – 2012
Dolly Parton originally recorded “From Here to the Moon and Back” for the Joyful Noise film soundtrack. Two years later, she called in the help of her friend and fellow country icon Willie Nelson to record a reimagined version for her album 2014 Blue Smoke. In addition to his vocals, Willie’s famous guitar “Trigger” lends an undeniably unique sound to the track.
By the time the song was released, Dolly had been married to Carl for 46 years. The song describes the type of love that can keep a couple together for that long—a love so big that it cannot be measured by anything on this planet.
“Forever Love” – 2016
Dolly Parton wrote “Forever Love” to celebrate her 15th wedding anniversary with Carl Dean (approx. 1981). However, the heartfelt ballad was not released for 35 years until it was included in the album Pure & Simple.
Dolly later told Rolling Stone that she purposely wrote “Forever Love” to be a wedding song. She said, “I thought it would be a good wedding song for anybody’s wedding.”
The song sounds like romantic wedding vows put to music, emphasizing the promise of loving someone forever.
“If You Hadn’t Been There” – 2025
On March 6th, just three days after Carl’s passing, Dolly released “If You Hadn’t Been There.” She had previously teased the song in January, telling American Songwriter that it would be featured in the upcoming stage adaptation of her life, Dolly: An Original Musical.
With the surprise release, Dolly wrote:
“Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him.”
“If You Hadn’t Been There” reflects on the profound impact Carl had on Dolly’s life. It asks the question, “If you hadn’t been there, where would I be?”
Listen to “If You Hadn’t Been There,” written by Dolly Parton and dedicated to Carl Dean, below!