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Dolly Parton's Ultra-Private Husband of Nearly 60 Years, Carl Thomas Dean, Dies at 82
The couple wed in 1966 but Dean avoided the spotlight
By
Victoria Edel
Updated on March 3, 2025 08:37PM EST
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Dolly Parton (right) and Carl Thomas Dean in the mid '80s. Photo:
Dolly Parton/Instagram
Carl Thomas Dean, Dolly Parton's ultra-private husband, has died at the age of 82.
Dean married the country legend in 1966 but eschewed the spotlight. He never attended public events with his wife, and the singer shared only a handful of photos of him over the years.
Parton shared the news of her longtime spouse's death
via Instagram on Monday, March 3. His cause of death was not immediately announced.
"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 post read.
"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," Parton's post continued. "The family asks for privacy during this difficult time."
Dean was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1942. He was one of three children born to Virginia "Ginny" Bates Dean and Edgar “Ed” Henry Dean. Parton shared in her 1994 book
Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business that Dean was close to his grandmother Minnie Bates,