Dolly Parton was terribly ‘heartbroken’ when soulmate husband passed away

Dolly Parton’s sister is talking about her profound relationship with husband Carl Thomas Dean.

Dolly’s sister, Stella Parton, says the singer was deeply affected by untimely death of her husband in 2025.

“I know their relationship was very unique and very deep and loyal. And I think it broke her heart to see him in the shape he, you know, got to before he passed away,” she told CBS Mornings.

“But I don’t think that’s what made her sick. I think my sister worked so hard for so long and just kept going. You know, even to the last conversation I had with her, she was working. That was her passion,” she added.

Dean “loved [Dolly] enough to let her be what she was,” the sister continued before adding: “He would rather her be at the house with her hair up in a ponytail and barefooted, cookin’ in the kitchen and just, you know, messin’ around the house.”

“That’s, I think, that’s what he would have preferred,” she noted.