Maybe you've wondered why Carl Dean never seems to go anywhere high-profile with Dolly Parton. While that might seem like part of Dean's duty as her husband, Parton has explained that he's extremely private. When speaking at a Marty Stuart Jam (via The Boot), Parton said she brought Dean to an event in 1966 where they got all dressed up and she received an award. She said that afterwards Carl turned to her and said, "Dolly, I want you to have everything you want, and I'm happy for you, but don't you ever ask me to go to another one of them dang things again!" 

In an interview with Vogue, Parton explained that she respects her husband's decision to stay out of the limelight, saying, "My husband is not one who wants to be just thrown out there. He's very private, and I've always respected that for him and about him." Speaking to People, Parton said that, while Dean wants to be left out of her fame, "he's always been supportive."