Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years who inadvertently inspired her most celebrated song when a bank teller flirted with him, died Monday of undisclosed causes. He was 82.
His death was announced by Parton, who wrote, “Carl and I spent so 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.”
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Parton and Dean met when she moved to Nashville to pursue a music career, and they married in 1966 when she was just 20 years old and her career was just taking off. Defying all expectations of both the era and realities of fame and entertainment, the couple remained deboted to one another even as Parton shot to global fame. He continued work on his own, non-showbusiness career running a road-paving company. Parton joked in her 1994 memoirs that he’d only seen her perform one time, but said any appearance that they never see one another was because he was a private person.
But he did inspire her music, including her signature song, “Jolene,” released in 1973. The song is about a woman who confronts another woman, Jolene, she fears will steal her husband, and leaves the question of whether Jolene actually aims to do this ambiguous. The real life inspiration, according to Parton, came early in her marriage when a pretty, red-haired bank teller flirted with Carl.
Parton later revealed that she wrote another of her signature songs, “I Will Always Love You,” on the same day she wrote “Jolene.”
The couple never had children of their own but raised several of Parton’s younger brothers and sisters. They renewed their vows in 2016 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
The family is planning a private burial attended by close family only.
The post Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s Husband of 60 Years, Dies at 82 appeared first on TheWrap.
