Dolly Parton, 76, has been married for 56 years to Carl Thomas Dean and is finally sharing the secret to their long-lasting and happy union. The singer kept her romance private from the moment they married, leaving fans to speculate about the country singer's life.
She typically keeps that part of her life separate from the media, but after more than half a century together, Parton believes it's time to share the secret with the younger generation.
You'll be surprised to learn that Parton and Dean stayed together for 56 years, thanks to their warped sense of humor. The singer told ET Canada that it was one of the first things that drew her to him, and she loves humor.
It's a great icebreaker during tense situations, according to Parton, who said, "If you have a great sense of humor, if you say something you can’t take back (you) usually have some crazy way of getting out of it."
Another secret to their long-lasting romance is giving each other space to be themselves individually. The singer reminded the interviewer that her husband isn't involved in Hollywood, so they have different interests and circles.
When you check the internet, you'd hardly find a picture of the Nashville native, and that's because he doesn't do industry parties. You have to check Parton's Instagram for rare pictures of the couple together.
"He’s not in the business, so we have different interests, but yet we have the things we love to do together."
The couple stays compassionate to each other even when they're upset. Parton said they never say damaging things to themselves hence the ability of humor to gloss over their arguments. Since meeting in Wishy Washy Laundromat almost sixty years ago, Dean and his wife remain each other's biggest supporters.
Last year Parton shared an old poor, resolution picture of herself with Dean during their youth of him wearing her concert merch. Then she reminded her five million-plus followers to find a partner like him.
Parton added that her husband has never been fussy, and they moved to Nashville after marrying in Ringgold, Georgia, to pursue her musical career with his full support. He allowed her to stay in the spotlight while he cheered from the background because he didn't want to take her shine and hated the attention that came with fame.
