Carl Thomas Dean, the reclusive husband of country music legend Dolly Parton, passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82 in Nashville, Tennessee. Born in 1942 in Nashville, Dean led a private life, shunning publicity despite his wife’s fame. The couple met in 1964 outside a laundromat on Parton’s first day in the city, marrying two years later on May 30, 1966, in Ringgold, Georgia. Dean operated an asphalt-paving business and was known for inspiring Parton’s hit song “Jolene.” Throughout their nearly six-decade marriage, Dean remained a steadfast supporter of Parton’s career while maintaining his preference for privacy. The couple did not have children. Dean is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie. A private funeral ceremony is planned.
