Carl Dean, the devoted husband of country music icon Dolly Parton who deliberately stayed away from the spotlight throughout their nearly 60-year marriage, died Monday in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 82.
Parton announced his passing in a statement, saying "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years." The family has requested privacy, and Dean will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family members.
Their love story began outside a Nashville Wishy Washy Laundromat when Parton was just 18 years old. Dean, then 21, caught her attention by looking her in the eyes while talking to her - something Parton noted was rare in her experience. They married two years later on Memorial Day 1966 in an intimate ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, attended only by Parton's mother, a preacher, and his wife.
While Parton rose to international stardom, Dean ran his own asphalt-paving business in Nashville and intentionally maintained a low profile. The private nature of their relationship led some to question Dean's existence, with Parton telling The Associated Press in 1984 that "a lot of people say there's no Carl Dean, that he's just somebody I made up."
Dean left his mark on country music history by inspiring one of Parton's most beloved hits, "Jolene." The song was inspired by a flirtatious bank teller who had taken an interest in Dean, though Parton later described it as "an innocent song all around."
Despite their contrasting personalities - Parton being in the limelight while Dean preferred privacy - their marriage endured. In a 2015 interview with People magazine, Parton described Dean as "a good man" and credited their differences for making their relationship exciting and fun.
Dean is survived by his wife Dolly Parton and his siblings, Sandra and Donnie.