Country music legend Dolly Parton is mourning the loss of her beloved husband, Carl Dean, who passed away on March 3 in Nashville at the age of 82.

The Jolene singer shared the heartbreaking news on social media, reflecting on their six decades of love and partnership.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” Parton wrote in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

According to the statement, Dean will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by close family members.

Parton and Dean’s love story began in the 1960s, with the two tying the knot in 1966. Though deeply supportive of his wife’s iconic career, Dean famously avoided the spotlight. After attending an event with Parton in 1967, he decided public appearances weren’t for him.

“I rented him a tux and begged him to go, and he did,” Parton recalled on the Dumb Blonde podcast in December. “And oh, he was so uncomfortable the whole night.”

That night turned out to be his last industry event.

“He said, ‘Look, now I want you to do everything you want to do, and I wish you the best, but don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going,’” she shared. “And he never did.”

Despite their differences in the public eye, Parton and Dean shared a strong, private bond. In a 2024 interview, the country star revealed the simple joys they enjoyed together.

“We just enjoy each other,” she told E! News. “I like to cook… We have our little RV, and we like to travel around. I’ll make a picnic, and we go down to the river and just kind of ride around and do our little things.”

The 79-year-old singer also admitted that giving each other space was key to their lasting marriage.

“Anything new gets old,” she joked. “And I think if you just stay together so much, you nitpick every little thing and notice all that.”

She added, “It's worked for us because we both do different things, and it's exciting when we are together.”

Dean’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary love story—one that thrived away from the limelight but remained one of country music’s most enduring romances.

Source: E! News