R.I.P.: Carl Dean, Dolly Parton's Husband For Six Decades

Carl Dean (1943-2015)

Dolly Parton announced the passing of her rarely seen yet frequently discussed husband of over six decades, Carl Dean, via social media on Monday. He was 82.

In an Instagram post, Parton reflected, “Carl and I shared so many beautiful years together. Words can’t capture the depth of the love we had for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts.” A follow-up statement noted, “He will be buried in a private ceremony attended by immediate family. He leaves behind his siblings Sandra and Donnie. … The family requests privacy during this challenging time.”

Dean has long intrigued Parton’s fans, largely due to his absence from the public eye throughout her career. He never joined the superstar at events and was seldom photographed, a choice Parton often credited for the strength of their bond, explaining that his preference for privacy complemented her high-profile life.

The couple tied the knot on May 30, 1966, in Ringgold, Georgia, with Parton’s mother present, two years after they started dating when Parton was 18. Even in the early days of their marriage—before Parton rose to fame as a country-pop icon and crossed over into music and film—Dean was rarely spotted by her side.