Carl Dean, the husband of famous singer Dolly Parton, passed away on Monday evening, March 3, in Nashville. He was 82 years old. Dolly’s team shared the sad news on her social media with a short message from her.
In the message, Dolly said, “Carl and I had so many happy years together. I can’t even explain how much we loved each other for over 60 years. Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.” She also mentioned that Carl will be buried in a small, private ceremony with just their closest family.
Dolly and Carl met a long time ago when she was 18 and he was 21. They bumped into each other at a laundromat in Nashville, and that’s where their love story began. Two years later, they got married. Even though Dolly became a huge star with songs like “9 to 5,” Carl liked to stay out of the public eye. There are only a few photos of him because he didn’t want to be famous.
Dolly once explained, “Carl likes being left alone. If people started taking his picture or asking him questions, he couldn’t go to places like the car parts store or watch a ballgame without being bothered.” They were very different—she’s loud and outgoing, he’s quiet and private—but they made it work. Dolly said their secret was simple: they loved and respected each other and had a lot of fun together.
After Carl’s passing, Dolly’s sister, Stella, also shared a message on X. She thanked everyone for their prayers and support for Dolly, the family, and Carl’s friends and loved ones during this tough time.
