It’s wedding season, and for the country stars who are already happily married, that means it’s wedding anniversary season.
While fame and fortune can be notoriously tough on a marriage, there are some contemporary country hitmakers who’ve been partnered up with their spouses for a surprisingly long time. For example, Walker Hayes and his wife, Laney, celebrated their 18th anniversary over the weekend, while Josh Turner and his wife, Jennifer — who also co-stars in his “Your Man” music video — celebrated year 19 this week.
But to figure out which country stars have the longest track record for wedded bliss, you’ve got to look to a slightly older generation. George Strait is no slouch: He celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, Norma, last December.
Loretta Lynn and her husband, Doolittle, just might hold the record: They tied the knot in January 1948 when Loretta was just a teenager, meaning that they would be married for over seven decades today. But Doolittle died in 1996, months after their 48th wedding anniversary.
One of the country stars whose marriage is still going strong is Dolly Parton: She and her husband, Carl Dean, tied the knot on May 30, 1966, meaning they just celebrated their 56th anniversary. Carl famously likes to stay out of the spotlight, but he’s the muse for many of Dolly’s songs, and their long marriage is proof positive that opposite personalities can make for a relationship that stands the test of time.
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