Dolly Parton's sister Stella thanks fans for support after brother-in-law Carl Dean's death
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Dolly Parton’s family is grieving the loss of Carl Dean, her husband of nearly six decades.
In the wake of his death, her younger sister, Stella Parton, took to social media to express her appreciation for the overwhelming support from fans.
Stella Parton’s tribute to her brother-in-law Carl Dean
Shortly after Dolly Parton announced the heartbreaking news on Monday, March 3, Stella Parton shared a heartfelt message on X, acknowledging the condolences the family had received.
“On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family, and Carl’s family, we appreciate your prayers at this time,” the 75-year-old singer wrote.
On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl’s family we appreciate your prayers at this time.
— Stella Parton (@StellaParton) March 4, 2025
Dolly broke the news of her husband’s death with a poignant statement shared to Instagram.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years,” the 79-year-old country icon wrote.
“Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” she added.
The statement revealed that Dean died in Nashville on March 3 and will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family.
“The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time,” the message concluded.
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Dean is survived by his wife and his siblings, Sandra and Donnie. His cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Carl Dean's life away from the spotlight
Unlike his world-famous wife, Carl Dean preferred a life outside the public eye and maintained his privacy, choosing to live a quiet life in Tennessee.
The couple, who never had children, rarely made public appearances together.
Dolly often spoke about the key to their long-lasting marriage, jokingly telling People in a 2018 interview, “I always joke and laugh when people ask me what’s the key to my long marriage and lasting love. I always say, ‘Stay gone!’ and there’s a lot of truth to that.”
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She added that while her career kept her traveling for long periods, the time they spent together was always meaningful.
“We really enjoy each other when we’re together and the little things we do,” she shared.
Dolly Parton reflects on how her "opposites-attract marriage" worked
In a rare interview discussing her marriage, Dolly Parton opened up in December 2024 on Bunnie Xo’s 'Dumb Blonde' podcast, sharing insight into the dynamic that kept their relationship strong.
“He’s quiet and I’m loud, and we’re funny,” she said, adding, “Oh, he’s hilarious. And I think one of the things that’s made it last so long through the years is that we love each other [and] we respect each other, but we have a lot of fun.”
Parton emphasized that humor played a crucial role in their relationship.
“Anytime [there’s] too much tension going on, either one of us can like, find a joke about it to really break the tension, where we don’t let it go so far,” Parton explained.
She also revealed that she and Dean never engaged in prolonged arguments, saying, “We never fought back and forth. And I’m glad now that we never did, because once you start that, that becomes a lifetime thing."
"I’ve seen it with so many people, and I thought, ‘I ain’t ever starting that,’" she shared, according to People.
