“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” ― Dolly Parton

Carl Dean, the beloved husband of country music legend Dolly Parton, passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82. A man known for his quiet nature and steadfast devotion, Carl spent nearly 60 years by Dolly's side, offering unwavering love and support while maintaining a life away from the public eye.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 20, 1942, Carl met Dolly in 1964 outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat on the day she moved to the city at age 18. The two quickly formed a deep bond, marrying two years later on Memorial Day in 1966. While Dolly’s career soared to international stardom, Carl chose a different path, embracing a private life.

Carl was a businessman—an asphalt paver who later owned his own paving company—and a man of simple joys, like taking road trips in the RV and spending time with Dolly. Though he preferred to stay out of the spotlight, his presence was felt in every corner of Dolly’s life, from the songs inspired by their love to the countless stories she shared about their adventures together. In a rare public statement in 2016, Carl recalled the day they met.

"My first thought was 'I'm gonna marry that girl. My second thought was, 'Lord she's good lookin.' And that was the day my life began." (Entertainment Tonight, 2016)