Country music icon Dolly Parton announced the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, on Monday at the age of 82. The couple, who were married for nearly 60 years, remained private throughout their relationship.
Parton met Dean outside a laundromat in Nashville when she was just 18 years old and an aspiring singer. They exchanged vows two years later in a private ceremony in Georgia. Despite his love for music, Dean focused on his asphalt-paving business and largely stayed out of the public eye.
Dean’s influence on Parton’s work is evident in her classic hit “Jolene,” which Parton claims was inspired by his frequent visits to the bank where he received high attention from a female teller. The couple had no children together, and Dean passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, according to a statement posted by Parton on social media.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c241vp9yv1mo