Dolly Parton has released a heartfelt statement following the death of her husband of 60 years, Carl Dean. In a message posted on her Instagram account on Thursday (March 6) – three days after announcing the passing of the Nashville businessman at the age of 82 – the country superstar wrote, “This is a love note to family, friends, and fans.”
“Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers you have sent to show your respect for the loss of my beloved husband Carl,” she continued. “I cannot personally respond to each and every one of you, but know that it has meant the world to me.”
“He is now in the arms of God, and I am at peace with that,” Parton added, before quoting her classic 1982 hit, “I Will Always Love You.”
Dean passed away on Monday (March 3). The “9 to 5” singer shared the news on Instagram that day, requesting privacy for her family in a statement, and noting that her husband would be laid to rest in a private ceremony. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” she expressed at the time. “Words cannot do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and support.”
Parton met Dean on the day she moved to Nashville at the age of 18, looking to start a career in music. Shortly after getting married in Georgia in 1966, she achieved her first of over 100 entries on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with “Dumb Blonde.”
Although Dean preferred to stay out of the spotlight and was rarely seen by the public, music was one of the first things he and the 10-time Grammy winner bonded over. In a 2023 interview with Billboard, Parton recalled listening to the car radio together on the day they met.
“I don’t remember what they were playing, but it was loud and it was rock ‘n roll,” the artist said, noting that she dedicated her album Rockstar to her partner because he “always loved” the genre. “The louder and harder, the better.”
See Parton’s post below.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton)