Introduction
Dolly Parton’s sister, Stella, has spoken out following the passing of the singer’s husband, Carl Dean, who died earlier this week at the age of 82.
Dolly Parton is grieving the loss of her beloved husband, Carl Dean, with whom she shared over six decades of love and companionship. The country music icon announced his passing early Tuesday morning, expressing her heartbreak: “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”
Stella, Dolly’s younger sister, has since provided an update on behalf of the family. Taking to X/Twitter, she wrote: “On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family, and Carl’s family, we deeply appreciate your prayers during this time.” Dolly, known for her timeless hit “Islands in the Stream,” had earlier shared a heartfelt statement on social media, saying: “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 family has announced that Carl will be honored in a private funeral service attended only by immediate family members. They have also requested privacy during this difficult time and have chosen not to disclose the cause of his death.
Carl Dean, who owned and operated an asphalt paving business in Nashville, Tennessee, was famously the inspiration behind Dolly’s iconic song, “Jolene.” Reflecting on the origins of the 1973 hit, Dolly shared with NPR in 2008: “[A woman] 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 it sounds like a dreadful one.”
Dolly and Carl’s love story began in 1964 when they met by chance outside a laundromat. Dolly, just 18 at the time, quickly fell for Carl, and the two tied the knot two years later in a simple ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.
In a 2008 interview, Dolly fondly recalled their first meeting: “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.”
The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in a special ceremony. Dolly shared her excitement with People magazine, saying: “We’re going to get married again!” She added, “I’ll have a beautiful wedding dress, ’cause I didn’t have a big, long wedding dress when we got married, and we’ve got a suit for him, so we’re going to dress up and take a bunch of pictures.”
Despite their enduring love, the couple has always maintained a private life. Dolly addressed the mystery surrounding Carl in a 1984 interview with the Associated Press, saying: “A lot of people say there’s no Carl Dean, that he’s just somebody I made up to keep other people off me.”
In a 2019 interview with People magazine, Dolly described Carl as her “biggest fan.” She said, “He’s always supporting me as long as I don’t try to drag him in on it. He’s always been my biggest fan behind the scenes, but he’s at home.”
Their love story, marked by devotion and privacy, remains one of the most cherished in the world of entertainment.