Dolly Parton Visited Church Where She Married Late Husband Carl Dean for Anniversary

Dolly Parton paid tribute to her late husband Carl Dean.

In an interview with FOX News’ America Reports on Thursday, June 5, the country legend revealed she visited the church where she and her late husband of almost 60 years, who died in March 2025, were married for their 59th anniversary.

Parton, 79, revealed how her “faith” has helped her cope with the loss of Dean.

“I am a person of faith, even though I lost him on this earthly plane, and I will miss him every day, having to learn new patterns, new habits, but knowing that I will see him again and knowing that he’s in God’s arms now and not mine,” she told the outlet.

But according to the “Jolene” hitmaker, he’s “still in my heart and in my memories.”

“And that’s how I get through my work and my faith that’s carried me on through,” added Parton. “But I do miss him, yes.”

The “9 to 5” artist then revealed she had her anniversary just two days prior to the interview.

“We got married down in Ringgold, Georgia,” Parton began. “And we would always go down to Ringgold so — in and around our anniversary every year since we were married. ”

She continued: “And so I went down there the other day on our anniversary. And they put a big plaque up in the yard of that church where we got married. It talks about us getting married there.”

According to Parton, she and Dean used to go and enjoy a picnic together for their anniversary.

“So, anyway, that’s where I spent my anniversary, our first — my first — our anniversary without him, the first one,” she said. “So I thought, well, I have got to go back and just take a picture on that — on the same steps at that same church.”

Parton felt like “he was there with me.”

“And I put his wedding ring around my little gold chain and wore it,” she said. “And I wore my little original wedding rings and just stood there. And it was just so — it was just so sweet, and it made me. It was good for me.”

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In May, Parton spoke to Entertainment Tonight about how she was doing following her late husband’s death.

“Of course I miss him,” she said of Dean. “I’m having to really go through a lot trying to figure out how to be without him because I was with him for so long.”

Added Parton: “I’m holding up, I’m doing as well as one can after 60 years, being with and loving somebody.”

Parton noted that losing him was bittersweet as “he did suffer a lot for the last few years.”

“There’s a part of me that’s happy he’s at peace and at rest,” she said. “But then of course, there’s that part of me that will miss him forever and long for him every day. For the rest of my life, I’m sure.”⁠