Dolly Parton’s husband of 60 years, Carl Dean, dead at 82

The renowned country music artist Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, died at the age of 82.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Parton’s publicist confirmed that he passed away in Nashville on Monday. Only close family members will be present at Dean’s funeral, which will be a private ceremony.

In a heartfelt statement, Dolly Parton, who was married to Dean for almost 60 years, expressed her grief:

Carl and I had a lot of amazing years together. The love we had for more than 60 years is beyond words. I appreciate your condolences and prayers.

The family has asked for privacy during this trying time, even though the cause of death has not been made public.

A Story of Love That Persisted Throughout Life

The romance between Dean and Parton started in 1964, the same day she moved to Nashville at the age of 18. They met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat. When Parton thought back to their first exchange, she remembered being pleasantly surprised that he looked directly into her face, which was something she wasn’t used to.

The couple decided to keep their union secret from the public and exchanged vows in a small, private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, on May 30, 1966, two years later.

Carl Dean wished to remain anonymous, in contrast to his well-known wife. He was a businessman who ran a Nashville asphalt paving company. Parton affectionately called his mother “Mama Dean.” His parents, Virginia “Ginny” Bates Dean and Edgar “Ed” Henry Dean, reared three children.

Because of Dean’s evasive personality, there has been conjecture over the years, with some people even doubting his existence. Parton humorously responded to these rumors in an interview from 1984, saying:

“Many people claim that Carl Dean doesn’t exist and that I made him up to keep people away from me.”

To show he wasn’t a “wart or something,” she even joked that she had once thought about posing with him on a magazine cover.

The Man Behind “Jolene” and His Impact on Music for a Lifetime
Even though Dean shunned the limelight, he had a big impact on Parton’s career and helped write one of her most famous songs, Jolene.

Parton stated in an NPR interview from 2008 that the song was influenced by a flirtatious bank teller who appeared to have a special affection for her husband.

She clarified, “She has this awful crush on my husband.” And because she gave him so much attention, he simply enjoyed visiting the bank. I used to say, “Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank,” as if it were a running joke between us. We don’t have that kind of money, in my opinion. Thus, it sounds like a terrible song, but it’s actually quite innocent throughout.

Dean’s passion for rock music continued to influence Parton’s artistic choices even in more recent years. My Blue Tears, a song she wrote in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was one of his personal favorites, so she included it on her 2023 Rockstar album.

As a nod to Dean’s musical preferences, she also performed covers of classic rock songs, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird and Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven.

A Durable Legacy

Carl Dean’s siblings, Sandra and Donnie, as well as his wife, Dolly Parton, survive him. Despite his decision to live a private life, he had a significant impact on Parton and her music.

His steadfast love and support throughout the years have had a lasting impact on her career and everyone who knew him.

The world remembers Dean as the silent force behind one of the most enduring love stories in music, even as Parton and her family deal with this loss.