Carl Dean, the husband of legendary singer Dolly Parton, passed away on Monday, at the age 82, with Parton issuing a statement on the passing.
News of Dean’s passing was announced by Parton on social media. In a quote in the announcement, Parton thanked fans for prayers and sympathies, and reflected on their marriage of over 60 years.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” Parton said. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) March 4, 2025
Dean and Parton met more than 60 years ago, when Dean — who was an asphalt paver — met the musical legend at a laundromat. While Parton rose to superstardom, Dean lived a more private life, with Parton previously saying that her husband never really cared much for the spotlight, describing him as a “quiet reserved person” in a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight.
“It’s just not who he is,” Parton said. “He’s like, a quiet, reserved person and he figured if he ever got out there in that, he’d never get a minute’s peace and he’s right about that.”
Dean was born in 1942, and met Parton in 1964, on the first day Parton moved to Nashville, Tennessee, according to Parton’s website. They married two years later, and lived on a farm outside of Nashville for several years. Parton’s iconic 1973 song “Jolene” was partly inspired by Dean, who would often be flirted with by a bank teller whenever he would go to the bank.
“He just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention,” Parton said in a 2008 interview with National Public Radio. “It was kind of like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”
