After losing the love of her life, Dolly Parton plans on honoring late husband Carl Thomas Dean as much as possible, an insider exclusively tells Closer.
“Dolly’s life will change without Carl in it, but don’t expect her to change much,” the insider says. “She’s not moving away from the home they shared outside of Nashville. She has a lot of beautiful memories there. Carl will live on in her heart and in her music, which he loved.”
The singer announced Carl’s death in a statement shared on Instagram on March 3.
“Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie,” the post said.
“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,” Dolly continued. “The family asks for privacy during this difficult time.”
The post on Dolly’s Instagram page garnered thousands of comments from fans, friends and other celebrities who sent their condolences after Carl’s death.
“Our hearts and prayers are with you, Dreamer-in-Chief. Sending love to you and your family,” the Dollywood Instagram account wrote in a comment underneath the post.
After news of Carl’s death was shared, Dolly’s sister Stella Parton spoke out in a statement posted on X.
“On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl’s family we appreciate your prayers at this time,” she wrote.
The pair, who got married in 1966, were fiercely private about their marriage for 59 years. Carl was rarely seen out in public throughout Dolly’s stardom, but he was more than happy with staying behind the scenes and supporting her in any way he could.
“He’s a country boy, he loves to work on his tractors, he was in asphalt paving,” Dolly once said. “He likes the privacy, and he would never in a million years do an interview.”
The “Jolene” singer credited the longevity of her marriage to keeping a good sense of humor with her husband.
“[Carl] is great, and we get along great and have a lot of fun together,” Dolly remarked in the past. “He makes me laugh all the time. It is one of the things that has kept us together all of this time.”
Dolly and Carl were a team, and she remained by his side to the end of his life
“She adores and is committed to Carl. They’re a team and Dolly will always be there for him,” a source told Closer in July 2021. “Dolly loves to laugh, as does Carl … they really get each other.”
The source said that due to Dolly’s celebrity status, she knew that her “love affair may not [be] the most conventional” with Carl, however, they always found a way to make things work, whether she was on tour or working on projects across the country.
“Dolly loves her Carl and knows that their unconventional relationship confuses people and her fans … but it’s lasted longer than most,” the source said at the time.
