Carl Dean
ON THE RECORD · 4 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“He said, 'I didn't choose this world, I chose you, and you chose that world. But we can keep our lives separate and together.' And we do and we have.”
Carl Dean · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-27
Parton shared Dean's words during a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight about keeping their lives separate and together.
“He said, ‘Look, now I want you to do everything you want to do, and I wish you the best, but don't ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain't going.’ And he never did,”
Carl Dean · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-27
Parton recounted on Bunnie Xo's podcast what Dean told her after the BMI Awards about never attending another industry event.
“My second thought was, 'Lord, she’s good-looking.' And that was the day my life began. I wouldn't trade the last 50 years for nothing on this Earth.”
Carl Dean · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-27
Dean spoke lovingly of Parton while the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016.
“My first thought was, 'I'm going to marry that girl,'”
Carl Dean · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-27
Dean told Entertainment Tonight about meeting Parton for the first time while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.