Carl Dean, Husband of Dolly Parton and Inspiration Behind Jolene, Dies at 82
Carl Dean, the longtime husband of country music legend Dolly Parton and the inspiration behind her classic song Jolene, has passed away at the age of 82.
According to a statement from Parton’s publicist, Dean died in Nashville, Tennessee. A private funeral service will be held for immediate family members. No official cause of death has been disclosed.
View this post on Instagram
A Private Life Away from the Spotlight
Carl Dean was known for keeping a low profile while marrying one of the world’s most popular country singers. While Parton excelled in the public eye, Dean wanted a more private existence away from the spotlight.
A Love Story That Began in Nashville
Parton first met Dean when she was 18 years old, just outside a laundromat on the day she moved to Nashville. She recalled the moment in a 2008 interview:
“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
Their love story led to marriage two years later in a small, private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia, in 1966.
Family and Legacy
Dean is survived by Parton and his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie.
One of his most well-known connections to Parton’s music career was being the inspiration behind Jolene. The song, twice nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, was written about a bank teller who appeared to take a special interest in Dean.
Parton playfully recounted the scenario in a 2008 interview.
“She developed a tremendous infatuation on my spouse. And he enjoyed coming to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was sort of an ongoing joke amongst us.”
Carl Dean may have shunned the spotlight, but his impact on Dolly Parton’s life and music is clear.
