Carl Dean, businessman and the devoted husband of country music icon Dolly Parton, has passed away at the age of 82.
Dean died on March 3 in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Parton, 79, shared an emotional tribute, stating that “words can’t do justice to the love” they shared over their many years together.
Married for nearly 60 years, the couple renewed their vows nine years ago after originally tying the knot in May 1966.
In the wake of Dean’s passing, Parton released a statement expressing, “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 family has requested privacy during this challenging time. Reports indicate that Dean will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with only close family and friends in attendance.
Though the couple never had children, their unwavering dedication to one another became legendary. Despite the pressures of fame and the demands of Parton’s career, their bond remained strong for more than six decades.
In an interview on the Dumb Blonde podcast last year, Parton reflected on how Dean had always made it clear that while he supported her career, he had no interest in being in the spotlight.
“He told me, ‘I want you to do everything you want to do, and I wish you the best, but don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going,’ and he never did,” she recalled.
She continued, “He loves music, but he’s not the least bit interested in being in it. And he told me that right up front.”
Their love story began in 1964, outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton, then 18, caught Dean’s attention as he drove by in his pickup truck. In a 1976 interview with The New York Times, Parton recalled that Dean “hollered” at her, and the rest became history.
As Parton’s career skyrocketed, Dean remained a loyal supporter, working behind the scenes while managing his own road-paving business.