Reba McEntire Says She's Never Met Friend Dolly Parton's Rarely Seen Husband Carl Thomas Dean

Mar. 15, 2025

Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton in August 2017.Photo:Rick Diamond/Getty

Rick Diamond/Getty

Dolly Parton’s husbandCarl Thomas Deandoesn’t show his face for just anyone.Reba McEntire, friend of Parton’s and fellow country music legend, appeared on a new episode ofSiriusXM’sAndy Cohen Liveand revealed she’s never met Dean in the flesh despite meeting the “Jolene” singer in the 1970s.The topic came up as theHappy’s Placestar, 69, told Cohen she’s “never” eaten Parton’s food because the Tennessee native has “never invited” McEntire to her house.“Have you met Carl?” asked theWatch What Happens Livehost, 56.“No. Have you?” replied McEntire.Cohen said he’s not met Dean, 82, but insisted “people really do swear he exists.““Yeah,” agreed the “Fancy” musician. “I saw something the other day. They were out camping, and she and Carl went back to where they got married.“Dolly Parton/InstagramParton and Dean met in 1964, quickly began dating and got married in 1966. She frequently speaks about their relationship, but he’s rarely seen in photos — and never at public events.On an episode of Parton’s Apple Music 1 showWhat Would Dolly Do? Radiolast year, she spoke about Dean’s decision to remain private. “Carl has never been in the limelight and all, never wanted to be in it. He don’t like it,” she said at the time.The “Here You Come Again” performer explained, “He went to one thing with me early on, when we first married, to a BMI Song of the Year [event], and he came out of there taking off his tuxedo, his tie and all that and said, ‘Don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going.’ I never asked him and he never did.“Parton described her husband as “very honest,” adding, “We have such a great relationship. I know not to ask him if I don’t want an honest answer.“Earlier the same year, she described Dean as a “loner” in an interview withEntertainment Tonight. “He’s kind of a loner, so he doesn’t really like being with anybody but me,” she said.“He’s not one to kind of get out there and socialize that much,” added Parton. “He loves living on the farm, taking care of the property as he has for all these many years.”

Dolly Parton’s husbandCarl Thomas Deandoesn’t show his face for just anyone.

Reba McEntire, friend of Parton’s and fellow country music legend, appeared on a new episode ofSiriusXM’sAndy Cohen Liveand revealed she’s never met Dean in the flesh despite meeting the “Jolene” singer in the 1970s.

The topic came up as theHappy’s Placestar, 69, told Cohen she’s “never” eaten Parton’s food because the Tennessee native has “never invited” McEntire to her house.

“Have you met Carl?” asked theWatch What Happens Livehost, 56.

“No. Have you?” replied McEntire.

Cohen said he’s not met Dean, 82, but insisted “people really do swear he exists.”

“Yeah,” agreed the “Fancy” musician. “I saw something the other day. They were out camping, and she and Carl went back to where they got married.”

Dolly Parton/Instagram

Parton and Dean met in 1964, quickly began dating and got married in 1966. She frequently speaks about their relationship, but he’s rarely seen in photos — and never at public events.

On an episode of Parton’s Apple Music 1 showWhat Would Dolly Do? Radiolast year, she spoke about Dean’s decision to remain private. “Carl has never been in the limelight and all, never wanted to be in it. He don’t like it,” she said at the time.

The “Here You Come Again” performer explained, “He went to one thing with me early on, when we first married, to a BMI Song of the Year [event], and he came out of there taking off his tuxedo, his tie and all that and said, ‘Don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going.’ I never asked him and he never did.”

Parton described her husband as “very honest,” adding, “We have such a great relationship. I know not to ask him if I don’t want an honest answer.”

Earlier the same year, she described Dean as a “loner” in an interview withEntertainment Tonight. “He’s kind of a loner, so he doesn’t really like being with anybody but me,” she said.

“He’s not one to kind of get out there and socialize that much,” added Parton. “He loves living on the farm, taking care of the property as he has for all these many years.”

source: people.com