Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Thomas Dean, has died at the age of 82.

The country music icon, 79, announced the death of her famously reclusive spouse on Monday, after nearly 60 years of marriage. 

In an Instagram statement, the Jolene singer revealed that Carl pᴀssed away in Nashville on March 3rd. 

In her heartbreaking tribute, Dolly reflected on the ‘many wonderful years’ the pair spent together as she expressed her deep love for Dean and thanked fans for their prayers. 

‘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,’ Dolly wrote. 

Dean is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family.

Dolly Parton’s, 79, husband, Carl Thomas Dean, has died at the age of 82; the pair seen together in 2017 in Beverly Hills

The country music icon announced the death of her famously reclusive spouse on Monday, after nearly 60 years of marriage 

In an Instagram statement the legendary singer revealed that Carl pᴀssed away in Nashville on March 3rd, as she reflected on the ‘many wonderful years’ the pair spent together

The full statement read: ‘Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, pᴀssed 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.’

‘The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.’ 

Read More Dolly Parton reveals the surprising reason why her husband refuses to join her at events

The couple have been married since 1966. 

In 2024, Dolly gave a rare glimpse into her marriage as she revealed the reason why her husband refused to attend events with her.

Speaking on an episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde Podcast, the star revealed that while her husband ‘loves’ music, he’s ‘not the least bit interested in being in it.’

Recalling a pivotal moment early in their marriage, Dolly revealed she once convinced Carl to attend an awards show in 1967 when she won BMI Song of the Year.

Despite the big win, ‘homebody’ Carl told her: ‘I wish you the best, but don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going.’

And, she added, he never did.

But throughout their decades together, the couple, who renewed their vows in 2016 at their Nashville home, have relied on their shared sense of humor to avoid conflict.

‘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,’ Dolly wrote

Dean is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family

The couple have been married since 1966, and renewed their vows in 2016 at their Nashville home

The pair first met at a laundromat in Nashville in 1964, and throughout the dizzy heights of fame, Carl has remained a constant and supportive figure for Dolly behind the scenes

Speaking fondly of her ‘hilarious’ husband, the ‘Jolene’ singer revealed ‘He’s quiet and I’m loud, and we’re funny…we have a lot of fun.’

She added: ‘Anytime [there is] too much tension going on, either one of us can like, find a joke about it to really break the tension, where we don’t let it go so far,’ she explained.

‘We never fought back and forth.’

The couple first met at a laundromat in Nashville in 1964, and throughout the dizzy heights of fame, Carl has remained a constant and supportive figure for Dolly behind the scenes.

While Dolly’s fame grew, Carl, who once ran a road-paving business, remained out of the spotlight, content to support his wife from behind the scenes.

And despite his reluctance to join her in the public eye, Dolly has always made an effort to keep their romance alive.

In 2022, she revealed in an interview with E! News that she always dresses up for her husband.

‘Every day, I put on some makeup and fix my hair because I think, “Well, the whole world, I’m out here and everybody else sees me all dressed up, and I’m not going to just kind of go home and just flop on him”,’ she said.