Dolly Parton Opens Up About Her Husband’s Passing, Finding Joy at 79 and Staying True to Herself

Dolly Parton reflects on a remarkable life filled with love, music and resilience, from her humble beginnings in a one-room cabin in Tennessee to becoming one of the world’s most beloved entertainers. In this heartfelt conversation, the country icon opens up about the loss of her husband Carl Dean, the enduring power of their love, and how she continues to find joy and purpose at 79. With her trademark humor — “I’m comfortable in my own skin, no matter how far I’ve stretched it,” she quips — Dolly looks back on her extraordinary journey and the new chapters ahead, including her upcoming memoir “Dolly Parton: Star of the Show” about life on the road.