Dolly Parton is reportedly feeling crushed by grief, more than eight months after the death of her husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
For those unaware, Dean embraced death at the age of 82 on March 3, 2025. His family announced the tragic news of his passing; however, it refrained from revealing the cause of his death.
An insider said Radaronline that Parton has stoked fear among her inner circle as she was overcome with grief after losing her beloved husband.
The source stated: “She is desperately trying to get herself back to work but it is very difficult. The loss is hitting her so hard. Her friends are very concerned.”
Notably, the 79-year-old American singer-songwriter and actress faced serious health problems after Dean’s death, so she had to move her Las Vegas residency from December 2025 to September 2025.
Parton revealed the issue that forced her to reschedule her upcoming shows, stating that she had endured kidney stones and multiple medical procedures. However, the Powerful women crooner still runs Dollywood.
According to the insider, “Carl’s death knocked the wind out of her. She tries to collect herself, but most days she looks lost. Carl was her rock. She depended on him more than people realized.”
Even Parton appeared in a pre-recorded video to accept her honorary Oscar at the recent Governors Awards, which was given to her in recognition of her humanitarian work.
The insider said: “The whole night was built around celebrating her. She was so sad to miss it because it’s a huge honour, but she just couldn’t bear to go, which tells you how bad it is.”
“She says no man could ever fill the space Carl left behind, and she has resigned herself to being alone in that sense for the rest of her life.”
“Dolly is a fighter, but she is not superhuman. This loss is enormous. Her friends can’t help but fear that she will never recover,” the source noted.
