Dolly Parton 'comforted by afterlife' after devastating death of husband Carl Dean
Dolly Parton is believed to be comforted by life after death, after her family encountered paranormal activity following the death of her baby brother
Dolly Parton is said to be comforted by the after life, after the death of her husband.
Earlier this week, the country legend, 78, announced the death of her beloved husband Carl Dean, 82. It was announced that Carl, who inspired the hit Jolene, had died in Nashville, Tennessee. No cause of death for Dean has yet been announced. "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy," Parton wrote in a statement.
Dolly has previously shared her belief in the afterlife, which she says started when she was a child after a rather unexpected paranormal encounter. One night, Dolly and her family had gone to bed at their home in Sevierville, Tennessee, when they experienced a presence approach their front door, causing them to wake up.
"The door was still locked and barred from the inside. My brother, who had been sleeping on the couch, said he felt a faint breeze, as if someone had passed closely by him," she previously said. Days prior to this, Dolly's younger brother, Larry, tragically died, just four days after his birth.
Her mother feared that a "death angel" may have returned to their home. But this wasn't the only paranormal experience that Dolly has encountered. She previously claimed that one night, after going to bed, she heard noises in her kitchen, with the cabinets open and water running. Dolly believed that her friend, Judy, had returned home earlier than expected.
She later heard footsteps moving up the stairs but in the early hours, as she entered her bathroom, the hot water turned on at full force. "I screamed in horror, and Carl came running! Now, that was a hard faucet to turn on anyway, and it always took a while for the water to heat up. I was terrified," Dolly told Radar.
Although she is not able to explain the experiences, she said that it "made me feel that much more certain that there are spirits and angels with us. I'll leave it to you to figure out." Following the death of Carl, Dolly's sister Stella, has taken to X, formerly known as Twitter to share an update.
"On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl's family we appreciate your prayers at this time," said Stella. Dolly and Carl married in 1966, with the couple having an unconventional marriage for the time. Carl was more than happy to let Dolly take the spotlight in their long relationship, and despite decades of marriage the couple never had children.
Dolly had addressed her and Carl's unit of two in the past, and explained that while they were open to having children they trusted in fate, and admitted that she thought things worked out for the best. "God has a plan for everything. I think it probably was his plan for me not to have kids so everybody's kids could be mine. And they are now," the 11-time Grammy Award winner said on the Today Show back in 2017.
While announcing Carl's death, Dolly confirmed that his funeral will be a private family ceremony. She said: "Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away on March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie. Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy. The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time."
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