Reba McEntire Says She's Never Met Friend Dolly Parton's Rarely Seen Husband Carl Thomas Dean

Parton married Dean in 1966 and met McEntire about a decade later, but she's never introduced them to one another

Dolly Parton's husband Carl Thomas Dean doesn't show his face for just anyone.

Reba McEntire, friend of Parton's and fellow country music legend, appeared on a new episode of SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live and revealed she's never met Dean in the flesh despite meeting the "Jolene" singer in the 1970s.

The topic came up as the Happy's Place star, 69, told Cohen she's "never" eaten Parton's food because the Tennessee native has "never invited" McEntire to her house.

Related: Dolly Parton and Carl Thomas Dean's Relationship Timeline

Rick Diamond/Getty Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton in August 2017

Rick Diamond/Getty

Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton in August 2017

"Have you met Carl?" asked the Watch What Happens Live host, 56.

"No. Have you?" replied McEntire.

Cohen said he's not met Dean, 82, but insisted "people really do swear he exists."

"Yeah," agreed the "Fancy" musician. "I saw something the other day. They were out camping, and she and Carl went back to where they got married."

Related: Reba McEntire Accidentally Took a 25mg Gummy with Her Late Mom: 'There Was Weeds and Flowers Growing Out of My Head'

Dolly Parton/Instagram Carl Thomas Dean and Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton/Instagram Carl Thomas Dean and Dolly Parton

Parton and Dean met in 1964, quickly began dating and got married in 1966. She frequently speaks about their relationship, but he's rarely seen in photos — and never at public events.

On an episode of Parton's Apple Music 1 show What Would Dolly Do? Radio last year, she spoke about Dean's decision to remain private. "Carl has never been in the limelight and all, never wanted to be in it. He don't like it," she said at the time.

The "Here You Come Again" performer explained, "He went to one thing with me early on, when we first married, to a BMI Song of the Year [event], and he came out of there taking off his tuxedo, his tie and all that and said, ‘Don't ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain't going.’ I never asked him and he never did."

Related: Dolly Parton Donates $1 Million Towards Hurricane Helene Relief: 'These Are My People'

Parton described her husband as "very honest," adding, "We have such a great relationship. I know not to ask him if I don't want an honest answer."

Earlier the same year, she described Dean as a "loner" in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "He's kind of a loner, so he doesn't really like being with anybody but me," she said.

"He's not one to kind of get out there and socialize that much," added Parton. "He loves living on the farm, taking care of the property as he has for all these many years."