The two were together for more than 60 years, and it is very clear that Parton is still hurting — and always will be — when she talks about him. And the 79-year-old country music legend recently revealed just what that pain might mean for the future of her country music career.

Dolly Parton is putting down the pen and closing the songbook for a while, due to the passing of her husband, Carl Dean. The 79-year-old country music icon sat down with Khloé Kardashian on her podcast, “Khloé in Wonder Land,” and talked about how difficult the songwriting process has been for her since her husband’s passing in March 2025.