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Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s Husband Who Inspired ‘Jolene,’ Dies at 82

BBG News

On Monday, at the age of 82, Carl Dean, the long-time partner of Dolly Parton for close to six decades, who shunned the limelight and played a significant role in inspiring her enduring song “Jolene,” passed away.

As reported by Parton’s representative to the Associated Press, Dean passed away in Nashville, Tennessee. A small, private gathering with only the immediate family present will take place for his funeral rites.

For numerous beautiful years, Carl and I were inseparable. Our love, which spanned more than six decades, is hard to put into words. I appreciate your thoughts and condolences,” was the message Parton penned down.

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.

During our conversation, it was unusual yet pleasing to notice that he focused his gaze on my face, as this seldom happens with me. His demeanor suggested a genuine curiosity about knowing more about me and understanding my personality. (Parton’s description of the meeting)

Two years after that, on Memorial Day – May 30, 1966, I tied the knot in a humble ceremony held in Ringgold, Georgia.

Dean, being a successful entrepreneur, ran an asphalt paving company based in Nashville. His parents, Ginny Bates Dean and Edgar Henry Dean, were blessed with three children. Parton often affectionately called her mother “Mama Dean.

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

In a conversation with NPR in 2008, Dolly Parton shared that the song “Jolene” was inspired by a captivating bank teller who appeared to have feelings for Dean, her then-husband.

She confided in me that she had developed strong feelings for my spouse, she said. He seemed to enjoy visiting the bank because she paid him extra attention. It became a bit of a humorous inside joke between us, as I’d tease him about spending so much time there, implying we didn’t have that kind of money. In truth, it was an innocent situation, but it sounded quite troubling.

For years, I’ve been tight-lipped about my personal life, particularly my relationship with Carl Dean. Back in 1984, I subtly hinted at the mystery surrounding him in an interview with Associated Press, saying something along the lines of: “Many folks claim that Carl is just a figment of my imagination, someone I invented to keep unwanted attention at bay.

She playfully suggested they might appear together on a magazine cover, “Just so folks can see that I’m not hitched to someone with a blemish like a wart or such.

In 2023, Parton told AP Dean helped inspired her 2023 Rockstar album.

She remarked that he’s quite fond of rock and roll,” she said. Regarding the song “My Blue Tears,” penned during her time on The Porter Wagoner Show in the late ’60s and early ’70s, she stated, “It’s one of my husband’s cherished songs that I composed.” Feeling it necessary to include a favorite tune of his, she explained, “I decided to add one of Carl’s favorites to this collection.” Additionally, she covered several of his preferred tracks when taking a brief break from country music, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.

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2025-03-04 06:06

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