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

Dolly Parton is saying goodbye to her fiercest supporter.

I’m deeply saddened to share that my beloved husband of 58 years, Carl Dean, departed this life on the 3rd of March, in our cherished city of Nashville. He was 82 years old.

For more than six decades, Carl and I cherished each other deeply,” Parton expressed through a post on X (previously Twitter). “No words can fully express the love we had. I appreciate your thoughts and compassion during this difficult time.

According to the post, it is reported that the Dean who wed the music legend back in 1966 will have a private funeral service, limited only to close family members.

For over six decades, Dean consistently stayed by his wife’s side, but following a public appearance with her at an awards show in 1967, he became known for shunning award ceremonies and similar public functions.

On the Dumb Blonde podcast in December, Parton reminisced, “I had rented a tuxedo for him and pleaded with him to join me, which he eventually did. The entire evening, he seemed uneasy.

When the couple returned home, Dean declared his first industry event would also be his last.

She explained, “He told me, ‘Go ahead and do whatever you desire, I hope it goes well for you, but please, never expect me to attend another similar event again, as I won’t be there,’ and true to his words, he never attended another one.

However, while the public may have seen their relationship as uncertain at times, it had a strong foundation. As early as May, the “Jolene” artist disclosed the activities that she and her partner enjoyed the most when they were in each other’s company.

She shared with Keltie Knight and Justin Sylvester from TopMob News that they simply appreciate each other. She enjoys cooking, and one of their favorite activities—not just reserved for date nights, but enjoyed throughout the week—is taking their RV to travel. They go out for meals or she prepares picnics, which they take to the river. Together, they enjoy exploring and doing various little things.

But the 79-year-old also admitted they both enjoyed their space.

She playfully commented, “Even the newest things can become familiar, which leads me to believe that when people spend too much time together, they start finding fault with even the smallest details.

Parton commented, “It’s successful for us since we each have distinct roles and it’s thrilling when our paths intersect.

Keep reading for a look at their inspiring love story.

In 1964, following her graduation from high school, Dolly Parton, who had already left two boyfriends behind in Sevierville, Tenn., wasn’t considering a new romance as she embarked on her move to Nashville.

Unfortunately, it was on the very same street, en route to a laundromat that she had chosen upon moving to Music City, when she encountered Carl Dean.

According to recollections (as Dean – who passed away on March 3, 2025, at 82 years old – never interacted with the media), it was while passing by in a white Chevrolet that he called out, “You’re going to get sunburned here, miss!

In her 2020 book, Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, she mentioned that during their conversation, I developed feelings for him, and he reciprocated. In a different interview, the petite artist, who was only 18 when they first met, remembered how sun-kissed Dean appeared as he stood tall at 6 feet 2 inches, towering over her. Since he had an outdoor paving business with his father, he was frequently exposed to the sun and thus tanned.

I hesitated, as I recalled what Stephen Miller wrote in his biography, Smart Blonde. He mentioned something about taking risks with strangers on back roads leading to danger. So, instead of jumping into his car without a second thought, I decided to play it safe. Dolly Parton had invited Dean to visit her the following day at her aunt and uncle’s house, which he did. However, our initial interactions were limited to outdoor meetings. For the next seven days, he persistently returned, and when we finally went on our first date, he first took me to his parents’ home. According to Dolly Parton, he confessed that from the moment he saw me, he knew I was the one he wanted.

However, as she began to establish herself as a songwriter and often worked with her uncle Bill Owens at Combine Music, Fred Foster, her boss, cautioned that it might not be wise for her to get married because her singing career was about to take off.

Instead, they, who had been preparing for a grand wedding, decided not to postpone their union any longer. On May 30, 1966, they eloped to Ringgold, Ga., and were married with just Avie Lee Parton, the bride’s mother, present (and she also served as their wedding photographer).

I couldn’t believe the secret that was kept from my idol, Foster. For an entire year, I had no idea that Dolly Parton and he were husband and wife! It wasn’t until her success began to soar, and a label executive blurted out, “Now aren’t you glad you didn’t get married?” that the truth finally came to light. What a shock it was for me, and I can only imagine how they felt!

Dolly Parton, famous for singing “Jolene”, clarified that although her passport reads Dolly Parton Dean, she didn’t alter her professional name as she had a recording contract under her birth name already.

In a joking manner, she told The Guardian in 2014 that if her name had been Dolly Dean, she would have gone by Double D as a playful nod to the repetition.

At the 1966 BMI Awards dinner, where Parton and Owens were recognized in the country songwriting category for their work on “Put It Off Until Tomorrow”, Parton indeed accompanied her husband to this significant event.

After the event, Dean promptly removed his tuxedo before they had even arrived at the car. In her book, Parton recounted that he said, “I’m proud of you. Do whatever makes you happy, but don’t expect me to attend another one of those events again, for I won’t.” And true to his words, he never has.

48 BMI Awards is one of the numerous honors she has received so far, along with 10 Grammys (excluding a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011), nine Country Music Association Awards, 13 Academy of Country Music Awards, and many more prestigious awards.

But the real prize was always waiting for Parton at home.

In an interview with People in 2018, the star of 9 to 5 humorously responded when asked about the secret to her long marriage and enduring love: “I usually quip ‘Stay away!’ There’s a grain of truth in that. I travel a lot, but we truly cherish each other when we’re together and appreciate the small moments we share.

As a devoted follower, I remember that our first dinner out together was at the McDonald’s drive-thru in Dean’s Chevy, a memory Dolly Parton fondly recalls. Our culinary preferences as a couple didn’t evolve into anything particularly extravagant, though Forbes estimated Dolly’s net worth to be an impressive $440 million in 2023. We frequented local eateries and embarked on numerous road trips, with Ringgold—the place where we exchanged our vows—being one of our favorite destinations.

In 2014, Dolly Parton expressed to Billboard, “I adore reading, cooking, and spending time with my husband in our compact RV. Even after long tours covering thousands of miles, I’d still say, ‘Bring on the camper; let’s explore somewhere new.’ He might respond, ‘Don’t you want a break from traveling?’ But I’m like a nomad at heart. I can’t resist the urge to roam.” When away from the spotlight, her life remains uncomplicated.

Though if you wanted to catch her and Dean at Publix or Walmart, you had to stay up late.

Dolly Parton shared with reporters in 2019 during the premiere of her Netflix series, “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings,” that she often visits places open all night. She mentioned that it brings her good fortune and she enjoys the few people she encounters there, as long as it doesn’t hinder her shopping spree.

Despite limited public appearances of the couple, which might have puzzled Dolly Parton fans over time, leading some to speculate that her husband is fictional, she herself has disclosed a handful of vintage photos for public viewing in her 2020 book.

She playfully featured her partner on the cover of her 1969 album “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy,” creating a combined picture that depicted Parton lost in thoughts about her rough-and-tumble lumberjack-clad companion.

However, Parton acknowledged Dean’s discomfort with the limelight, therefore she made every effort to keep him away from it whenever feasible.

In my conversation with ET back in 2020, I shared that he is someone who prefers to keep a low profile. I mentioned that if he were to step into the limelight, as he feared, he would indeed never have a moment’s peace, and it seems he was spot on about that.

On their 50th anniversary, they renewed their vows at home. At last, Dolly Parton was able to don the stunning wedding dress she had always envisioned. Additionally, she wrote a song to accompany their vows titled “Forever Love”, which was one of many tracks inspired by her and Dean’s enduring love story, featured on her 2016 album Pure and Simple.

She shared with Rolling Stone about their second special day, saying, “I donned an exquisite dress, while my husband was dapper in his attire, reminiscent of a leading man from the silver screen. A small gathering of family and friends joined us, as we intentionally avoided any grandeur to prevent unnecessary stress or tension. Instead, we carefully planned a low-key ceremony at our very own chapel on our property, making sure to keep things light and enjoyable.

In addition to the typical queries about her methods for a successful marriage, Parton also faced her fair share of questions regarding her and Dean’s unique family dynamic as a couple.

Previously, Dolly Parton expressed feelings of perhaps regretting not having children, as she shared with Billboard. However, during her dating and married life, they assumed they would have offspring. They weren’t taking any preventative measures. In fact, they thought they might. Even selecting names if it happened, but their plans didn’t come to fruition. Now, Parton reflects, ‘God did not intend for me to have children, so everyone else’s kids can be mine.’

They revealed to The Guardian that, had they ever had a daughter, they would have likely named her Carla. Dean and she often pondered about the characteristics of their potential children.

Dolly Parton expressed her belief that she could have excelled as a mother, stating, “I likely would have sacrificed everything else for my children to avoid feeling guilty about leaving them behind to pursue my career. My life might have taken a completely different path if I had become a mother – perhaps I wouldn’t have achieved the same level of stardom.

But as the fourth of 12 siblings, she has had plenty of people in her life to dote on.

She shared with Billboard that her family is extremely important to her, as five of her younger siblings once lived with her and her partner for a significant period. She added that they also maintain a close relationship with their nieces and nephews. As Carl and she grow older, they often express gratitude that they didn’t have children, since it means they no longer have to worry about them.

Which also left more time to focus on each other.

In 2020, Parton shared with People, “We still have our special moments, reminiscent of the spring when the first daffodils bloom. Even if there’s snow around, my husband always gifts me a bouquet. He often writes a short poem too, which I treasure immensely. That moment, to me, is like having a date all by itself.

They found greatest joy in either enjoying a cozy dinner at home under candlelight or traveling and spending the night at a Days Inn (as long as the room was clean with a bathroom), simply because they loved living life on their own terms.

Despite Dean never attending events like the Grammys or Oscars, Parton’s signature glamour was something he often witnessed. Her makeup was always impeccable, even during sleep, and she seemed to enjoy getting dressed up just for being awake. This meant that Dean frequently encountered his wife in her stunning, elegant style.

She stated, “I’m always ready to help him out because I don’t support idleness at home. But generally speaking, he doesn’t mind my attire as far as I’m content. He cherishes me just the way I am.

2025-03-04 04:17

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