Dolly Parton’s husband of 59 years, Carl Dean, has died. He was 82.
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Dolly’s Instagram account broke the news in a statement saying that Carl passed away on March 3rd in his hometown of Nashville, TN. “He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending,” the statement continued.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” Dolly wrote. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
The family has not shared a cause of death.
Dolly Parton And Carl Dean Met When Dolly Was Only 18
Dolly Parton met Carl Dean at a laundry mat in 1964, when she was only 18. The two began dating immediately and married on May 30th, 1966. The couple shared a romantic but highly private romance while Dolly rose to fame.
Carl Dean, who owned an asphalt paving business, famously chose to stay out of the limelight. Dolly often supported her husband’s choice to stay home as she traveled the world and walked the red carpets, saying their differences were what made them close.
“If I call him, that’s fine—he ain’t expectin’ it,” she told PEOPLE in 1982. “He doesn’t like me home for long because it interferes with his tradin’. So we never really have any hold on each other. And yet we have the ultimate hold.”
Along with Dolly Parton, Carl Dean is survived by his sister, Sandra, and brother, Donnie.
This story’s featured image is by Jason Kempin/Getty Images.
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