Dolly Parton’s Late Husband Had a Hilarious Secret When Visiting Dollywood—And She Just Spilled It!
Dolly Parton is always full of surprises, but this latest revelation about her late husband, Carl Dean, might just be the most unexpected yet! The Queen of Country made her first public appearance since Dean’s passing on March 3, 2025, and while the moment was bittersweet, she made sure to leave fans with a smile.
Parton took the stage at Dollywood’s 40th anniversary celebration on March 14, where she thanked fans for their support. “I will always love him, and I miss him,” she told the crowd, as reported by Knox News. But despite the sadness, she made it clear she was there for some much-needed joy. “I need some fun, so I’m probably gonna be stupid. I’ve been crying enough the last week or two,” she admitted.
The country legend got candid about her grief, saying, “There’s a hole in my heart,” but reassured everyone, “I’m at peace that he’s at peace.” Still, there’s one thing about Carl Dean that will always bring a smile to her face—his sneaky habit when visiting Dollywood!
Turns out, Mr. Dolly Parton himself had a hilarious way of experiencing the theme park… like a regular guest! “He used to come to the park; he bought his own ticket—stood in line and got his ticket. He didn’t want somebody giving him a ticket ‘cause he was Dolly’s husband,” Parton revealed. Imagine standing in line for a roller coaster next to him and not even knowing!
And get this—Dean would ONLY go to Dollywood when his superstar wife was away! He never joined her for events, never did the VIP thing, but you better believe he had some strong opinions about the park. “He would say, ‘You need more bathrooms,’” Parton said, laughing. “Or he would say, ‘You need to tell them this or that. It’s crowded over in that area. You might want to tell them they ought to do this or that.’”
While Dean wasn’t a thrill-seeker, preferring to stroll around and take in the atmosphere (and, of course, grab a famous Dollywood funnel cake), Parton admitted that’s exactly how she’d love to visit too. “I think I would do like Carl,” she said. “I would just walk around, and look at everything.”
Imagine bumping into Dolly Parton at Dollywood and not even realizing it! Keep your eyes peeled, folks—you never know who might be enjoying a low-key day in Pigeon Forge.
