Dolly Parton’s sister, Stella, shared an update on the singer following the death of her husband, Carl Dean, who passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82.
The sister of Dolly Parton has shared an update on the singer following the death of her husband, Carl Dean.
Dolly’s husband, Carl Dean, passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82 in Nashville, Tennessee. Her sister, Stella Parton, has since taken to X, formerly Twitter where she wrote: “On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl’s family we appreciate your prayers at this time.”
Dolly has 11 siblings, making her one of 12 children in her family. The very private businessman married Dolly, 79, in 1966, with the duo having an unconventional marriage for the time. Carl was more than happy to let Dolly take the spotlight in their long relationship, and despite decades of marriage the couple never had children.
Dolly has addressed her and Carl’s unit of two in the past, and explained that while they were open to having children they trusted in fate, and admitted that she thought things worked out for the best. “God has a plan for everything. I think it probably was his plan for me not to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine. And they are now,” the 11-time Grammy Award winner said on the Today Show back in 2017.
Dolly confirmed Carl’s death on Monday morning after almost 60 years of marriage. He passed away in Nashville, where the couple had lived throughout their lives. Dean is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie, and will be buried in a private ceremony attended by close family members.
The full statement read: “Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away on 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. 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 asked for privacy during this difficult time.”
The couple had been married since 1966. Carl Dean famously never walked a red carpet in his life, stays well away from glamorous showbiz parties and doesn’t accompany Dolly on tour. Instead he quietly ran a paving company and potters away on their sprawling farm back in Tennessee. In a previous interview with the Mirror, Dolly told of her love for the man she first met outside the town’s Wishywashy laundromat in 1964.
“I love the fact he loves me, sees me, tolerates me, because of and in spite of myself,” she said at the time. “It’s all about the sweet little things he does like picking flowers for me, making my coffee in the morning. He is incredibly thoughtful and we love each other for all the same reasons. We are very different but very compatible. And it just works. The two greatest gifts God ever gave me was a best friend – Judy – and then Carl. I can’t imagine what my life would have been without them.”
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