Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, has passed away. The two of them married in 1966, and he led a private life despite his wife’s popularity. He will be remembered by his family.
Who announced Dolly Parton’s husband’s death?
The news of Dean’s passing started to circulate after Dolly Parton herself posted a statement on her Instagram account announcing her husband’s death. The statement was released on 3 March 2025. The post 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 is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie.”
The cause of death has not been disclosed at this time, respecting the family’s wishes for privacy. Parton’s most recent appearance before Dean’s passing was when she appeared in a music video with Sabrina Carpenter.
Who was Carl Dean?
Carl Dean was born in Nashville in 1942. He had two siblings and his mother was Virginia “Ginny” Bates Dean, while his father was Edgar “Ed” Henry Dean. This is according to Dolly Parton’s official website.
When Dean and Dolly married in 1966, there were no witnesses other than Dolly’s mother and the pastor and his wife.
Spending their lives together
The couple has been together for many years before Dean’s passing. Dolly Parton was always vocal about the love the two of them shared. She referred to this love in her post.
“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,”
Despite leading a private life, Dean talked to Entertainment Tonight in 2016 about his relationship with Dolly; this was a rare event.
“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,” he said back then.
How did Dolly Parton and Carl Dean meet?
While Dean didn’t like being in public, Dolly Parton spoke before about how the two of them met. According to PEOPLE, the couple met outside a laundromat in 1964 when Dolly was 18 years old. Back then, she was in Nashville to follow her dream of becoming a singer.
She told The New York Times in 1976 some details about the first time the two of them crossed paths. Back then, Dolly wasn’t famous yet. She met Dean early in her career, and they stayed together through the different stages of her professional life.
“I’d come to Nashville with dirty clothes. I was in such a hurry to get here. And after I’d put my clothes in the machine, I started walkin’ down the street, just lookin’ at my new home, and this guy hollered at me, and I waved. Bein’ from the country, I spoke to everybody. And he came over and, well, it was Carl, my husband.”
At first, Dolly wouldn’t talk to Dean since these were the customs back then. However, she invited him to visit her at her house where she was babysitting her nephew.
The singer then recalled that Dean visited her every day of this week. When they went out together on a date, Carl took her to meet his parents.
Dean was the inspiration behind Jolene
Dean had a great influence on Dolly’s life and career. He was the source of inspiration for her songs several times, and the songs he inspired would be a reminder of him after his passing.
Dolly Parton’s mostly known for her popular song Jolene. In 2008, the singer told NPR how Dean was the inspiration behind the song. She mentioned that the real Jolene, which isn’t her real name, was flirting with Dean while he was in a bank where she worked.
“She got this terrible crush on my husband. And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”
Celebrities sending their condolences to Dolly Parton
Once Dolly Parton released her statement, several celebrities took to the comments to share their condolences.
“Love to your family,” wrote Andy Cohen. Dolly has previously appeared on Cohen’s show Watch What Happens Live on 29 July 2021. She talked back then about her music career.
Khloe Kardashian also left a comment under the post. She wrote “Oh my heart! I am so sorry for your loss! My heart aches for you! My deepest condolences. Praying for you and sending you love and prayers.”
Khloe and Dolly had brief interactions in the past. One of them was in March 2024 when Khloe shared her excitement on Instagram once she received Dolly Parton’s Duncan Hines baking products. At the time, Dolly expressed hope to meet Khloe one day.
Another comment came from Reese Witherspoon who wrote “sending all my angels to you and your family.” Dolly was Witherspoon’s first guest on her talk show Shine On with Reesein 2018, and the two have a somewhat close relationship.
Sending prayers to Dolly during this difficult time. What would you say to her?
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