Happy Anniversary Dolly and Carl Dean, With Love From A Stranger
I don’t know when or how it happened, but I’ve always been drawn to Dolly Parton. I first visited Dollywood in 2016, and was filled with joy to see it was a lot like Disney, but with more denim, animatronic-talking crows, and Dolly Parton’s face painted on buildings.
Today marks the eve of the 54th Wedding Anniversary of her and her husband Carl Dean. Unlike Dolly, Carl likes to fly under the radar and is rarely photographed with her. “He doesn’t like crowds,” the singer told Huffington Post. “And I respect his privacy. I respect the fact that he loves to be out of the limelight. That’s one of the reasons I think we’ve lasted so long.”
They met at the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville, but unlike the name of the Laundromat itself, their love is the opposite of wavering and indecisive. Carl liked to go where he was comfortable, so on their first date he got them dinner at the McDonald’s drive-thru. Now, for most couples that move would be a deal-breaker. However, I like to think that was one of the defining moments where Dolly decided, “This is forever.” I admire the spirit of Dolly and Carl - two people who are constantly true to themselves, and who respect each other’s differences.
While we know way more about Dolly than Carl, I think it’s safe to say that for 54 years, they didn’t try to change each other. They supported the person they fell in love with, and that allowed them to successfully navigate five decades together. She summed it up best in “Pure & Simple”, a song written for Carl: “It's so pure it's almost sacred / Simply put, it feels divine / I just love you pure and simple / Pure and simple and sublime.”
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Together, they were able to achieve their own dreams. Carl started a Nashville-based asphalt-laying company in 1977, and in addition to her impressive music career, Dolly created Dollywood which employs 4,000 locals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. She also started the Imagination Library which gives free books to children under the age of five. They have donated money to the people affected by a wildfire in the Smoky Mountains, and to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for COVID-19 research.
And while Carl still doesn’t enjoy the spotlight, he agreed to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in a public ceremony in Nashville because “it was a great opportunity for us to raise money for some very worthy causes.” They sold their vow renewal photos to benefit Dolly’s Imagination Library, and Carl even gave his first interview - conducted by Dolly!
So, cheers Dolly and Carl, on your 54 years together - and thank you for consistently spreading love and hope the world so desperately needs.
With Love,
Aubrie Williams