By Carl Dean, the longtime husband of country music icon Dolly Parton, has passed away at the age of 82.
The couple, who were married for nearly 60 years, famously kept their relationship private, with Dean staying out of the public eye for most of his life.
Dolly Parton confirmed her husband’s passing in a brief statement, saying: “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together.”
Dean and Parton’s love story was one of country music’s most enduring romances, despite Dean’s decision to avoid the spotlight while his wife became a global superstar.
Fans and fellow artists have taken to social media to offer their condolences to Dolly Parton, celebrating the quiet strength and loyalty Carl Dean brought to their union.
While Parton has not yet shared details about funeral arrangements, many expect tributes to pour in from the country music world in honor of Dean’s life and his steadfast support of one of the genre’s biggest legends.
