Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s devoted husband of nearly 60 years, has died at the age of 82. The news was shared on the country legend's Instagram account, revealing he passed away on March 3 in Nashville at the age of 82.
© The Grosby GroupAccording to the statement, Dean, who famously avoided the spotlight, died in Nashville and will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie. His cause of death was not revealed.
It also included a quote by Parton that read, "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your privacy and sympathy." The family also asked for privacy during this difficult time.
Parton had the support of thousands, with celebrities like Sheila E. and Diplo sending their condolences. The Wiggles also shared their support commenting, "So sorry for your loss Dolly. Sending you love and strength" which is the top-liked comment.
Parton is 79 years old, and they have been married since May 30, 1966, and they were soon going to celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary. Their story is precious and a testament to long-lasting love. They met outside a laundromat on the first day she moved to Nashville in 1964. "I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about," she wrote on her website.
© The Grosby GroupFor him, it was love at first sight. "My first thought was I'm gonna marry that girl," Dean said when they renewed their vows for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016, per ET. "My second thought was, 'Lord, she's good-looking.' And that was the day my life began."
© Richard E. AaronParton got to know Dean before she hung out with him alone, telling the New York Times, “I wouldn't go out with him. I mean, that was somethin’ we was taught. You gotta know somebody, or they may take you on a back road and kill you."
She invited him to her house because she was babysitting her nephew, and he came over every day that week. The first time they went out together, he took her to meet his parents.
They secretly married two years later in a small ceremony with just her mother as a witness. While Parton became a global superstar, Dean remained steadfastly private, running his asphalt paving business and letting his wife shine.
He rarely appeared in public with Parton, fueling endless speculation about their relationship, but she often joked that their secret to lasting love was that he stayed home while she traveled the world. “He’s always been my biggest fan behind the scenes,” she once said.
Last year on Bunnie Xo's podcast Dumb Blonde, Parton opened up about his desire for privacy saying, "He don't want me to tell the world nothing about Carl, so there you go. I can talk what I want to, but he'll say, 'Just leave me out the whole damn thing."
He was the quiet force behind some of her music, including one of her most iconic songs, "Jolene." The song was inspired by a bank teller who flirted with him. Her ballad "From Here to the Moon and Back" is also about their enduring love.
With their private nature, they built a partnership that lasted through fame, fortune, and six decades of unwavering devotion. The celebrity couple's love story proves that powerful love stories are the ones that aren't in the spotlight.
