Dolly Parton's beloved husband Carl Dean dies, aged 82

4 March 2025, 10:13

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean were married for over 60 years.

Dolly Parton has announced the death of her husband Carl Dean at the age of 82.

The country legend has thanked fans for their prayers and sympathy following the passing of Carl, who she married all the way back in 1966.

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"Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82," read a post on Dolly's official Instagram page."

"He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie."

A statement from Dolly 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 prayers and sympathy."

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Dolly was only 18 when she met the then 21-year-old Carl Dean outside their local Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville on the day Parton first moved to the city.

They married after just a couple of years, eloping to Georgia against the wishes of Dolly's record label.

When the couple renewed their vows in 2016 for their 50th anniversary, Carl revealed how he felt when he first crossed paths with Parton.

"My first thought was 'I'm gonna marry that girl,'" said Dean

"My second thought was, 'Lord she’s good lookin.' And that was the day my life began. I wouldn't trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth."

Parton said: "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."

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On their 50th anniversary, Dolly said: "If I had it to do all over, I'd do it all over again, and we did. I'm dragging him kicking and screaming into the next 50 years. Wish us luck."

Despite Dolly's superstardom, Carl always preferred to remain out of the limelight, and was rarely seen in public with his wife.

"A lot of people say there's no Carl Dean, that he's just somebody I made up to keep other people off me," Dolly once joked to The AP.

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Dean preferred to stay in Nashville running his asphalt-laying company and only went to one event with his famous partner, attending a BMI dinner in 1966.

"Carl and I got dressed up, he was in a tux, and we drove to the dinner," Dolly told Oprah Magazine. "We got out and walked up the red carpet and went inside and sat through dinner and the awards.

"After the dinner, Carl turned to me and said, 'Dolly, I want you to have everything you want, and I'm happy for you, but don't you ever ask me to go to another one of them dang things again!'