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Carl Dean, Dolly Parton's husband of nearly 60 years who inspired 'Jolene,' dies at 82
AP via MSN ^ | 03/04/2025 | Maria Sherman

Posted on 03/04/2025 8:32:30 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Carl Dean, Dolly Parton's devoted husband of nearly 60 years who avoided the spotlight and inspired her timeless hit “Jolene,” died Monday. He was 82.

According to a statement provided to The Associated Press by Parton's publicist, Dean died in Nashville, Tennessee. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending.

“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," Parton wrote in a statement.

The family has asked for respect and privacy. No cause of death was announced.

Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day she moved to Nashville at 18.

“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me)," Parton described the meeting. "He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”

They married two years later, on Memorial Day — May 30, 1966 — in a small ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.

Dean was a businessman, having owned an asphalt-paving business in Nashville. His parents, Virginia “Ginny” Bates Dean and Edgar “Ed” Henry Dean, had three children. Parton referred to his mother as “Mama Dean.”

Dean is survived by Parton and his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie.

He inspired Parton’s classic, “Jolene.” Parton told NPR in 2008 that she wrote the song about a flirty bank teller who seemed to take an interest in Dean.

“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” she said. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us —

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: deadagain; dollyparton; searchworks
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To: SeekAndFind
inspired her timeless hit “Jolene,”

Jolene sleeps with the fishes.

21 posted on 03/04/2025 10:20:23 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

After the death of my father a year ago the thoughts of my own and spouses mortality really hit home. I’m sure that’s standard. Been thinking more and more about signing and going to church. I think it can be helpful.


22 posted on 03/04/2025 11:57:46 AM PST by kelly4c
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To: SeekAndFind

Good memories not everyone has them for that long.


23 posted on 03/04/2025 12:14:45 PM PST by Vaduz
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To: Thank You Rush

Dolly and Carl did not have children.


24 posted on 03/04/2025 1:05:49 PM PST by NCVA (nolibsforme)
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To: NCVA

Post #7 said they had two daughters - the reason I questioned it..


25 posted on 03/04/2025 1:36:49 PM PST by Thank You Rush ( )
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To: Thank You Rush

Dolly can’t have children.


26 posted on 03/04/2025 2:45:06 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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