Dolly Parton revealed that at one point in her life she thought of committing suicide. The singer claims that the guilt of cheating on her husband Carl Dean was so overwhelming hat she nearly ended her own life. Parton is coming clean about some very personal details of her life in her new memoir, "Dolly on Dolly." In the new tell-all Parton opens about some major Parton family secrets concerning addiction, infidelity, and mental illness.
Dolly Parton opens up about her open marriage
Dolly Parton, 71, claims that after she ended the affair she became overwhelmed with guilt and depression.
She details the night she first began contemplating suicide. The "I Will Always Love You" hitmaker states in her tell-all that she was alone in her bedroom when she remembered that there was a handgun on the nightstand next to the bed that she kept for protection.
Parton reveals guilt and depression took over her life
"I looked at it a long time," stated Dolly, describing how she picked up the gun, and believed that at any moment she would commit suicide. Parton credits her beloved dog Popeye for saving her life that night, claiming that if he hadn't come running up the stairs into the singer's bedroom, she believes she would not be here today. "I kinda believe Popeye was a spiritual messenger from God.” Dolly and Carl have been married for over fifty years, and she has admitted publicly that the two have an "open relationship," but not sexually.
The one thing that Dolly does not reveal in her new tell-all is just who it was that she carried on the extra-marital affair with. However, there has been a lot of speculation over the years that Dolly's mystery affair, which occurred while she was in her thirties, may have been with the singer's band leader, Gregg Perry.
Dolly admits that she had plenty of heartache over the affair for many years.
The one thing that Dolly does reveal about her marriage to Carl Dean is that over the many years they have been together, things have not always been smooth. But, they will remain together until death separates them.
Dolly Parton most recently made news headlines in March after her niece was found dead from a drug overdose.
As previously reported, the country music sensation was unable to attend the memorial service due to illness. Over the years, Tever's addiction troubles became very well known. In 2006, her addiction became so bad that she assaulted her boyfriend's cancer-stricken mother in an attempt to get money for drugs. Dolly Parton previously attempted to help her niece, paying $25,000 for an unsuccessful rehab stay.
"Dolly on Dolly" is available now.
