Carl Dean, the husband of country music icon Dolly Parton, has passed away at the age of 82. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years, but Dean had remained largely out of the public eye, with Parton often keeping their personal life private.
Dolly Parton shared her sorrow on social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”
Dolly met Carl in 1964 outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville when she was 18 and he was 21. Reflecting on their first encounter, she recalled how Dean looked at her face, which she considered rare, and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her.
The two married in a simple ceremony in May 1966, attended only by Parton’s mother, the preacher, and his wife. The couple’s long and private marriage was built on deep love and mutual respect.
