Dolly Parton is understandably struggling since the death of her husband Carl Dean after 60 years together.

Carl died on March 3 at the age of 82.

‘Oh, you know what, I get very emotional when people bring it up,’ Parton told Today’s Savannah Guthrie. 

‘But we were together 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old,’ she said, as she fought back tears.

The I Will Always Love You singer, 79, is very thankful for all the messages she received since her beloved husband’s death.

‘I’m so thankful. I’ve gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world,’ she shared before jokingly adding. ‘I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous.’ 

Dolly Parton is understandably struggling since the death of her husband Carl Dean after 60 years together. Carl died on March 3 at the age of 82. ‘Oh, you know what, I get very emotional when people bring it up,’ Parton told Today’s Savannah Guthrie

‘But we were together 60 years. I’ve loved him since I was 18 years old,’ she said, as she fought back tears

The I Will Always Love You singer, 79, is very thankful for all the messages she received since her beloved husband’s death

‘I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together,’ Parton posted on Instagram in March. 

Parton dedicated her new song If You Hadn’t Been There to Dean.

‘Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story.’

Several weeks after Dean’s death, Parton told Knox News, ‘I’m doing better than I thought I would. I’ve been with him 60 years. So, I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close.’

She also shared insight into the end of her famously reclusive husband’s life, revealing that he struggled leading up to his death.

‘He suffered a great deal,’ Dolly said. ‘I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him.’

She went on to say, ‘It’s a hole in my heart, you know, but we’ll fill that up with good stuff and he’ll still always be with me.’

In late March, the country music icon took to Instagram to share her reaction to the tribute paid to her late spouse at this week’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration show.

Carl died on March 3 at the age of 82

‘I’m so thankful. I’ve gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world,’ she shared before jokingly adding. ‘I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous’ 

‘I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together,’ Parton posted on Instagram in March. Parton dedicated her new song If You Hadn’t Been There to Dean 

‘I’m so thankful. I’ve gotten so many cards, letters, flowers, from all over the world,’ she shared before jokingly adding. ‘I had no idea Carl Dean was so famous’

During the show, stars including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lady A and about 50 members of the Opry’s choir performed Parton’s 1974 song I Will Always Love You.

‘Everybody here at the Opry and around the world wants to send you our thoughts and prayers,’ McEntire, 69, said to Dolly from the stage. 

‘And you gotta know, we will always love you,’ she added.

Via Instagram Stories, Dolly wrote to her 7.5 million followers, ‘I have not stopped crying over the beautiful tribute of I Will Always Love You on the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry show.’

She added, ‘All those beautiful people with all their beautiful voices singing my song as a tribute to my husband Carl… the emotion was beyond words.’

The legendary music artist continued, ‘I have cried enough to wash a great deal of the pain away so thanks to all of you beautiful people that helped make that possible.’

She finished the note, ‘I also will always love you,’ and signed off, ‘Dolly.’

Parton was just 18-years-old when she first crossed paths with Carl in 1964 at Nashville’s Wishy Washy Laundromat. They married two years later.

‘They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story’

Dolly’s Broadway-bound musical about her life, Dolly: An Original Musical, begins previews on July 18 for a limited August 8-17 run at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.

Parton is not only producing the show — which is being helmed by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher — she also co-wrote the corresponding book with two-time Emmy-winning producer Maria S. Schlatter, and penned ‘many original songs’ and ‘included all your favorites’ too.

Dolly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Grand Ole Opry in 1969.