Carl Thomas Dean, Dolly Parton's Husband of Almost 60 Years, Passes Away at 82

On March 3rd, Dolly Parton lost her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean. Carl, 82, was always super private compared to his famous wife but the two spent so many wonderful years together. The artist announced his death on her Instagram.

Carl was born in Nashville in 1942. He and Dolly met in 1964 outside of a laundromat. The singer was just 18 years old and had moved to Nashville to pursue her music career.

The Two Married in 1966

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In a New York Times interview from 1976, Dolly shared about their meeting. “I'd come to Nashville with dirty clothes,” she stated. “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.”

The couple married in Ringgold, GA, in 1966. Only her mother, the pastor, and his wife were in attendance. While Dolly started on her path to fame, Carl supported her but stayed in the background and worked on his asphalt business.

Although Dolly did keep her relationship separate from her career, her famous song, ‘Jolene,’ was inspired by a woman who was always flirting with her husband when he went to the bank when they were newly married. It was all very innocent.

His Passion Was Buying and Reselling Trucks and Tractors

One of Carl’s passions was buying and reselling trucks and tractors. "He likes his freedom," Dolly told PEOPLE back in 1982. "If I call him, that's fine, he ain't expectin' it. He doesn't like me home for long because it interferes with his tradin'. So we never really have any hold on each other. And yet we have the ultimate hold."

Dolly has also talked about how the two were opposite from one another, however, opposites do attract, and it seems they have with Dolly and Carl. In 2016, they renewed their wedding vows.

Carl, always Dolly’s biggest fan, even from behind the scenes, will be missed. In her Instagram post, Dolly wrote, “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.”

We will pray for Dolly and her family as they go through this loss. Carl was also survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie.

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“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” - Ecclesiastes 4:9

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h/t: PEOPLE

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