Dolly Parton: Kids weren't for me, I love all children

Country music legend Dolly Parton, who passed away at 80, previously detailed her and late husband Carl Thomas Dean's decision not to have children.

In a 2023 interview, Parton shared that having children was not a primary desire, prioritizing her career and music instead. She believed having children would have meant staying home and worrying extensively.

Parton expressed a sentiment that "God didn't let me have children so that all kids could be mine," embracing a broader connection to children.

She met her husband Carl Thomas Dean in 1964 and they married two years later in Ringgold, Georgia, for immediate licensing.

Their marriage was notably private, with few public appearances together.

Carl Dean sadly passed away in March 2025 at the age of 82.

Parton had previously discussed with Billboard in 2014 that they had assumed they would have children and even picked out names.

However, she reflected on Apple TV's The Oprah Conversation in 2020, noting that her freedom to work was a significant factor in her success.

Health issues also contributed; Parton was diagnosed with endometriosis at 33 and underwent a partial hysterectomy at 36, which she described as a difficult period.

Despite this, Parton stated in her book, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, that she does not regret her choice and now, with Dean, they often express relief at not having children to worry about.

She maintains a close bond with her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, whom she calls her "little sweetheart."

Parton has frequently collaborated with Cyrus and offers her advice, praising her talent and success.