Dolly Parton’s longtime husband, Carl Dean, passed away on Monday at the age of 82.
According to a statement she shared on social media, Dean, who was renowned for his privacy during his nearly 60-year marriage to Parton, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the statement she said “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.”
Recalling their first encounter, Parton, 79, 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.” The pair later exchanged vows at a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, on May 30, 1966.
Dean stayed out of the spotlight during their marriage, preferring to concentrate on his Nashville asphalt paving company.
Dean continued to have an impact on Parton’s work despite mostly avoiding the spotlight; he was the inspiration behind her iconic smash song “Jolene.”
The ambiguity surrounding Parton’s relationship with Dean led to rumors that he didn’t exist, however Parton made light of the situation.
Dean and Parton did not have any children together. Parton stated in a resurfaced 2020 interview with Oprah Winfrey that she was able to focus entirely on her career because she didn’t have children.
In regards to this, she shared, “Since I had no kids, and my husband was pretty independent, I had freedom. A big part of my success is the fact that I was free to work.”
Parton’s statement stated that his siblings, Sandra and Donnie, are his survivors.
-Deeprows Entertainment