Dolly Parton’s sister is speaking out after the loss of Carl Dean, the country star’s husband of nearly 60 years.
Shortly after the “Jolene” singer announced the death of Dean on Monday, March, 3, her younger sister Stella Parton shared a message to X thanking fans for their condolences.
“On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl’s family we appreciate your prayers at this time,” Stella, 75, wrote.
Parton, 79, said in a statement shared to Instagram that her husband, whom she married in 1966, died on March 3 in Nashville at age 82.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years,” she wrote. “Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
The statement said Dean will be laid to rest in a private ceremony, and that the family “has asked for privacy during this difficult time.” He is survived by his wife and siblings Sandra and Donnie.
Dolly Parton and Carl Dean. Dolly Parton/Instagram
Dean largely eschewed the spotlight, choosing to maintain his privacy in spite of his wife’s A-list fame. The couple — who had no children — were rarely seen together in public, though Dean remained entirely supportive of Parton’s career.
“I always joke and laugh when people ask me what’s the key to my long marriage and lasting love,” Parton told PEOPLE in a 2018 cover story. “I always say ‘Stay gone!’ and there’s a lot of truth to that. I travel a lot, but we really enjoy each other when we’re together and the little things we do.”
Dolly Parton and Stella Parton attend the premiere of “Dolly Parton’s Coat Of Many Colors” at the Egyptian Theatre on December 2, 2015 in Hollywood, California. Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
In December, the star gave rare insight into her marriage with Dean on Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast, and explained why their opposites attract dynamic worked for them.
“He’s quiet and I’m loud, and we’re funny,” Parton said. “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.”
She added that their humor was a big factor in keeping their bond strong.
“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 said during the podcast. “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 also told PEOPLE in 2022 that they spent quality time together in the kitchen.
“I like it when he comes [in the kitchen when I’m cooking]. A lot of times he’ll sit and watch me, or he’ll talk,” she said. “He’s a pretty good cook. Not a gourmet cook, but I tour so much he’s always, through the years, had to fix things for himself. So he knows how to do that, but he loves my cooking.”
