Carl Dean, the reclusive husband of country music legend Dolly Parton, passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82 in Nashville, Tennessee. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years, having tied the knot on May 30, 1966.
Dean was born in Nashville in 1942 to Virginia “Ginny” Bates Dean and Edgar “Ed” Henry Dean. He owned an asphalt-paving business and was known for his preference to stay out of the public eye, rarely accompanying Parton to events. Despite his private nature, Dean significantly influenced Parton’s music, notably inspiring her hit song “Jolene.” Parton recounted that the song was inspired by a bank teller who had a crush on Dean, leading to playful exchanges between the couple.
The couple first met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville when Parton was 18. Dean is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie. A private ceremony will be held for immediate family members to honor his memory.