Dolly Parton’s Husband, Carl Dean, Passes Away at 82 in Nashville

Carl Dean, the beloved husband of country music legend Dolly Parton, passed away on Monday, March 3, at the age of 82. The news was confirmed by Parton herself, who shared a heartfelt message on social media.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” the Jolene singer wrote. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

Parton also revealed that Dean would be laid to rest in a private ceremony, attended only by immediate family. He is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie.

A Love Story That Spanned Decades

Parton and Dean’s love story began in 1964 when they met at a laundromat—she was 18, he was 21. They married in 1966 and remained devoted to each other for nearly six decades.

Though Dean was rarely seen in public, he remained a constant source of support for his wife behind the scenes. Parton once explained his preference for staying out of the spotlight.

“He’s always supporting me as long as I don’t try to drag him in on it,” she told People in 2019. “He’s always been my biggest fan behind the scenes, but he’s at home. He’d never come dragging around.”

 

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The Secret to Their Lasting Love

In a 2023 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Parton shared the key to their lasting bond.

“He loves music, but he’s not in the music business at all, so we have different things to talk about—his world and my world—and we work really well together,” she said. “We have a lot of love and respect for each other, and I think the key to all of it… we both have a crazy, warped sense of humor, so we have a lot of fun.”

Even after decades of marriage, Parton said they still found joy in the simple things.

“We just enjoy each other,” she told E! News in 2024. “I like to cook… we have our little RV, and we like to travel around. We’ll go down to the river, have a picnic, and just kind of ride around and do our little things.”

A Time of Heartache

Dean’s passing comes just months after Parton lost her older brother, David Wilburn Parton, who passed away at 82 in November. David was one of Dolly’s 11 siblings, all born to Robert and Avie Lee Parton in Tennessee.

As Parton navigates this difficult time, fans around the world are sending their love and support to the country music icon, who has always cherished family above all else.