Dolly Parton, George Jones, Alabama, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kenny Rogers are shining stars in country music history. And 1980 was a climatic year of career-making songs for each of them.

It’s very well documented that Carl Dean likes to stay out of the spotlight, and has just as much fun cheering on his wife from the comfort of his own home. Parton and Thomas figured that out very ...