Dolly Parton Mourns the Loss of Her Husband, Carl Dean, at 82

Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock

Dolly Parton is grieving the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, who passed away on March 3 at the age of 82. The couple had been married for 59 years, a rare and enduring love story in the entertainment world.

Dean’s passing was announced via Parton’s Instagram, where she shared a heartfelt statement:

Born in Nashville in 1942, Carl Dean was largely known for staying out of the public eye despite his marriage to one of the biggest stars in music. The two first met at a laundromat when Parton was just 18 years old. She recalled being struck by how he looked directly at her face rather than elsewhere—a detail that stood out to the rising star.

Two years later, in 1966, they quietly tied the knot in Ringgold, Georgia. Throughout their decades-long marriage, Parton kept her relationship with Dean private, sharing only small glimpses into their life together. Dean, who owned an asphalt-paving business, famously avoided the spotlight, leading some to joke that he wasn’t real. Even Parton played along with the mystery, once saying, “A lot of people say there’s no Carl Dean, that he’s just somebody I made up to keep other people off me.”

Despite his preference for privacy, Dean was Parton’s biggest supporter and the inspiration behind one of her most iconic songs, Jolene. While Parton never disclosed the details of his passing, she and Dean’s family have requested privacy as they mourn his loss.

Carl Dean is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie.