Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband of almost six decades, passed away at the age of 82.
Dolly Parton announced his death in a heartfelt statement on Instagram.
“Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82,” the statement read.
“He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie.”
The statement included a quote from his widow, who shared, “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.”
The Grammy-winning country star and her loved ones have “asked for privacy during this difficult time”.
Dean, who was originally from Nashville and had retired from a business in asphalt road-paving, married Parton in July 1942 in Georgia.
Despite their private nature, Parton revealed that Dean was a romantic at heart, often surprising her with sweet gestures and even writing her poems.
Parton once joked that Dean had only seen her perform once, highlighting their strong bond behind closed doors. “We’re really very proud of our marriage,” the singer-songwriter gushed in 2011. “It’s the first for both of us – and the last.”
