Carl Dean, the husband of country music legend Dolly Parton, passed away on Monday at the age of 82.
The couple had been married for nearly 60 years, maintaining a private relationship despite Parton’s superstardom.
Parton paid tribute to her late husband on X, writing, “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together.
“Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”
The couple met in 1964 outside a Nashville laundromat, and Parton recalled being drawn to Dean’s genuine interest in getting to know her.
“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for)”, she said.
“He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about”, she added.
They married in 1966 in an intimate ceremony attended by only a few close family members and friends.