Dolly Parton Opens Up About Being Married for Over 50 Years to Reclusive Husband Carl Thomas Dean!

Dolly Parton is opening up about her relationship with husband Carl Thomas Dean!

The legendary 72-year-old musician spoke about her marriage in a People cover story, published on Friday (November 23).

“I’ve been married for 53 years come next May, and my husband and I have a great relationship. We’ve been together most of our lives,” she said.

Carl never appears at public events with Dolly, and largely stays out of the spotlight.

“I always joke and laugh when people ask me what’s the key to my long marriage and lasting love. I always say ‘Stay gone!’ and there’s a lot of truth to that. I travel a lot, but we really enjoy each other when we’re together and the little things we do,” she explains.

“He knows I’m always going to kind of be fixed up for him because I don’t believe in going home and being a slouch…he doesn’t care what I wear as long as I’m happy. He loves me the way I am.”

She also opened up about their vow renewal ceremony on their 50th anniversary two years ago in Nashville, Tenn.

“I never really felt like I had the wedding that we really wanted. He got all dressed up and I got all dressed up. Fifty years is a long time for anything, and I felt that we needed to do something to commemorate this. It’s been a good 50 years and I don’t know how many more years we’ll have left.”

For more from Dolly, head to People.com.