Country music legend Dolly Parton’s husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, has passed away at 82.
The singer released an official statement to her Instagram page on Monday evening that read: Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie.”
The statement continued with a message from Dolly herself: “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 announcement concluded with: “The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.”
The couple were together for 59 years (
Image:
@dollyparton)
The country star shared the news on her Instagram page (
Image:
Getty Images)
The couple, who had been married since 1966, did not have any children. The two Tennessee natives reportedly met outside a laundromat in 1946 when Dolly was 18 and Carl was 21. It was the future superstar’s first day living in Nashville as she pursued a career in music.
In 1981, the ‘Jolene’ singer told PEOPLE: “Carl is the one man in my life. I would love to grow old with him. If he should die first, I may never marry again. My love is that deep.”
Dolly and Carl kept their relationship mostly private as he was known to be ‘shy’ and preferred to stay out of the spotlight.
After half a century of marriage, Dean told Entertainment Tonight in 2016: “My first thought was ‘I’m gonna marry that girl.’ 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.”
The ‘9 to 5’ singer and her late husband shared a home together in the quiet Nashville suburb of Brentwood, Tennessee since 1999.
After sharing the news to her 7.3 million followers, fans flooded the comments offering words of condolences and support for the 79-year-old icon, including some familiar names like Andy Cohen, Sheila E, and Khloe Kardashian.
