Dolly Parton wrote it in her own hand: in the early 1980s, she experienced what she called an ‘affair of the heart,’ an emotional affair that took place while she was married to Carl Dean, her husband of nearly 60 years. 💔
In a 1986 interview with Ladies’ Home Journal, republished years later in the book ‘Dolly on Dolly,’ she confessed that the episode ‘almost killed me.’
It came after an incredibly difficult time: filming ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ alongside Burt Reynolds had been a nightmare, and death threats had forced her to cancel an entire tour.
She never revealed the person’s name, although rumors pointed to Gregg Perry, her bandleader.
What she did make clear was that she went through a profound emotional crisis before reconciling with Carl. Book Romantic Getaways
He died in March 2025, and she followed him in August 2026, at the age of 80, leaving this confession as one of the last human cracks behind her legend. 🌸