Dolly Parton reveals sad reason why husband won’t appear in public with her

Despite having been married for almost 60 years, you'll very rarely see Dolly Parton in public with husband Carl Dean.

And it turns out, the reason why is pretty darn heartbreaking...

Dolly has been married to her husband since the 60s (Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

For those unfamiliar with their love story, Dolly and Carl first met all the way back in 1964 at a laundromat - a self-service laundry facility - in Nashville.

The country musician was just 18 at the time, with then-asphalt-paving company owner Carl only being slightly older himself.

After two years of love, the pair wed in 1966 at a small church in Ringgole, Georgia, with only Dolly's mother Avie Lee and the resident preacher in attendance.

It was understood that several of the singer's earliest and best-selling tracks were inspired by the early days of her marriage to Dean, including 'Love Is Like A Butterfly' and 'I Will Always Love You'.

That isn't to say that the couple didn't endure their fair share of rough patches, however, with Dolly being told in the 80s they'd she'd never be able to bear children following a series of gynaecological problems.

She also told press previously that after a bout of depression, she was almost tempted away to another man, and that her adoration of Carl only returned when she re-discovered her faith.

The couple have only been seen in public a handful of times (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

Through it all, however, Dean has repeatedly proven to his wife that he'll always be there for her... just not physically.

In fact, ever since Dolly sky-rocketed to fame, he's only been seen in public with her a handful of times.

That isn't to say he doesn't love and support her, though - only that he's severely 'uncomfortable' with being under the watch of the public eye.

Dean's discovery was made following the release of her No. 1 single 'Jolene', after which he reportedly rented a tux after Dolly 'begged him' to attend the BMI Awards with her.

She'd been nominated for 'Song of The Year' that year, but just minutes into the ceremony, Dean began to squirm.

She told listeners of Bunnie Xo's Dumb Blonde podcast this week: "He said, 'Look, now I want you to do everything you want to do, and I wish you the best, but don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going'.

"And he never did."

The 78-year-old went on to explain: "He loves music, but he’s not the least bit interested in being in it.

"And he told me that right up front."