Find out how Dolly Parton’s decision to choose independence over parenting affected her career and legacy.
Ever wonder why someone chose a childfree existence?
Over their almost 60 years together, Dolly Parton and her late husband, Carl Dean, deliberately decided to live childless.
Now 79, Dolly famously told Oprah Winfrey that not having children cleared the path for her to labor nonstop and reach amazing success.
Saying it let her immerse herself into every endeavor free from interruptions, she acknowledged the luxury of having no children—and a spouse as independent—for driving her work.
How then did destiny direct their path?
These two souls entwined in the unlikeliest of locations—a Nashville laundromat, when Dolly was barely eighteen—long before the cameras rolled and celebrity took control.
Two years later, they cemented their marriage, a link that would not change as Dolly’s celebrity rose.
Carl kept out of public view, yet every shared moment in their basic, private existence revealed itself.
Curious what else impacted their decision?
The choice Dolly made to forego biological offspring sprang from strong convictions.
She once said she was directed by a higher power—God, in her perspective—who meant for her to channel her love to all children rather than create a family of her own.
Later, same mindset helped her start the 30-year-old Imagination Library project, which sends free books to kids before they start school.
Ever consider love in the little moments?
When they had time away from their hectic life, Dolly and Carl loved the simplicity of little excursions together.
As long as the bed was cozy and the toilet was clean, she delightedly remembered unanticipated stays at hotels, gorgeous excursions across Tennessee and Kentucky, and even impromptu drives through little drive-throughs.
These little adventures characterized their life together and showed that frequently the little joys in life create happiness.
Do you remember a loving goodbye?
Noting that Carl was 82 and will be buried discreetly with close loved ones, Dolly posted a sensitive post on social media regarding his death on March 3 in Nashville As she considered more than six decades of shared experiences and deep affection, her tribute was full of feeling.
She gently begged for privacy during this trying period and said in her words the link they created transcends language.
Dolly Parton & Carl Dean Quick Facts
- Over the over sixty years of marriage, they remained childfree.
- Dolly attributed her work success to her lack of children, thereby attaining independence.
- Dolly was eighteen and the pair met in a Nashville laundry.
- Motivated by her decision, Dolly started the Imagination Library.
- At 82, Carl Dean died away leaving a legacy of pure love.