“Words Can't Do Justice to the Love We Shared”: Dolly Parton Pens Moving Tribute After Her Husband, Carl Dean, Dies Aged 82

Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, has died at the age of 82. According to a statement shared by the country icon, Dean died in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, March 3rd.

The statement confirms, “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”.

Dolly Parton then offered a touching tribute to Dean, before expressing gratitude to fans for their support throughout this challenging period, “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 statement concludes by underlining that the family “have asked for privacy during this difficult time”.

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean married in 1966, with the ‘9 to 5’ hitmaker's husband choosing to steer clear of the spotlight, running his asphalt-paving business while the ‘Islands in the Stream’ chart-topper's music career continued to explode.

Parton endearingly recalled the first time they crossed paths, reflecting, “I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face - a rare thing for me. He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about”. Two years later, Parton and Dean married on May 30th, 1966.

Carl Dean served as the inspiration behind one of Dolly Parton's most recognisable hits, ’Jolene’, with Parton joking that she wrote it when a bank teller kept flirting with Dean. The couple have established themselves as Nashville royalty, with many of Parton's fellow country artists sharing their condolences via social media.

Dean is survived by his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie.

For more on Dolly Parton, see below: