Credit: Alamy & @dollyparton/Instagram
Dolly Parton’s Husband Carl Dean Has Died
Carl Dean, the husband of legendary country music star Dolly Parton, died on Monday at the age of 82.
Known for his intensely private nature, Dean shared nearly six decades of marriage with Parton, remaining largely out of the public eye.
His passing in Nashville, Tennessee, was confirmed in a statement released by Parton on social media.
Reflecting on their long and loving relationship, Parton expressed her grief and gratitude, stating: “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 couple first crossed paths outside a laundromat on Parton’s very first day in Nashville, the BBC reports.
At the time, she was an 18-year-old aspiring singer with dreams of making it big in the country music scene.
Recalling that pivotal moment, Parton shared: “I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
Their relationship blossomed quickly, and two years later, on May 30, 1966, they were married in a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.
While Parton’s career took her to international fame, Dean chose a quieter life, focusing on his asphalt-paving business in Nashville rather than stepping into the limelight.
Although he remained behind the scenes, Dean played a significant role in influencing Parton’s music.
One of her most famous songs, ‘Jolene,’ was inspired by a situation involving a bank teller who had a crush on Dean.
Speaking about the song, Parton explained: “She got this terrible crush on my husband. And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention.
“It was kinda like a running joke between us – when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”
Due to Dean’s preference for staying out of the public eye, speculation arose over the years that he was merely a fictional character created by Parton.
Addressing these rumors in a 1984 interview with the Associated Press, she humorously remarked: “A lot of people say there’s no Carl Dean, that he’s just somebody I made up to keep other people off me.”
The couple marked their 50th wedding anniversary in May 2016, and to celebrate the occasion, Carl Dean shared a rare public statement about his wife, Dolly Parton.
Reflecting on their first meeting, he wrote: “My first thought was, ‘I’m gonna marry that girl.'”
He continued: “My second thought was, ‘Lord, she’s good-lookin’.’ And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth.”
To honor their milestone anniversary, Parton and Dean renewed their vows in an intimate ceremony in Nashville.
“If I had it to do all over, I’d do it all over again, and we did,” Parton shared at the time.
She added with humor: “I’m dragging him kicking and screaming into the next 50 years. Wish us luck.”
One of the most surprising revelations Parton made about their relationship was that it was ‘open’ – but not in the traditional sense.
“Yes, it’s an open relationship, but not s**ually, and I would kill him if I thought he was doing that,” she clarified.
She added, “He would shoot me too. At the end of the day, we love each other madly.”
Parton and Dean shared a long-lasting and loving marriage but did not have children together.
According to Parton’s statement, Dean is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie.
Related Article: Dolly Parton Takes Off Wig And Shows Off Natural Hair For First Time
Related Article: Dolly Parton Has A Secret Song That May Only Be Released After She’s Died
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