“He’s Still at the Table With Me”: The Grief and Grace of Dolly Parton’s Life After Love. In the glow of stage lights, Dolly Parton still shines—but behind her iconic smile lies a quiet sorrow. Since the passing of her beloved husband Carl Dean, she lives with “an ache no spotlight that can soothe”. From “Setting his Place” at dinner to “Whispering to his Grave”, Dolly’s every day is “A Love Letter” to the man she still carries in her heart