But first, as the legend goes, she had to do her laundry.
The day she arrived in Nashville, outside the WishyWashy Laundromat, Parton met Carl Thomas Dean.
They married two years later and remained together for over 60 years.
Dolly Parton and Carl DeanDollyParton.com
On Monday,Dean diedat the age of 82.
(No cause of death was given.)
Carl and I spent many wonderful years together, Parton said in a statement.
Words cant do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.
Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.
Unsurprisingly, his total absence from the public eye engendered curiosity among Partons fans.
Youknowhe does, Parton replied with a laugh.
And the stories are wrong he has seen me perform.
And he liked it.
He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.
He was so uncomfortable the whole night, Parton said.
As soon as we hit the door, he started pulling off stuff.
And he never did!
She did add, though, Now, we will go to Mexican restaurants and sit in a booth.
Well go sit in a booth … we know where to go before the big crowds come.)
Anyway, I told the truth and he wasnt too happy about that and then I wrote that song.
I thought, Well, Im going to write about mine and Carls relationship.
We lucked up, lets put it that way.
But their ostensible differences were also crucial in their way.
But we do have a great respect and admiration for each other.
