Dolly Parton‘s husband, Carl Dean, has passed away at the age of 82, following nearly 60 years of marriage. A statement on Dolly’s Instagram on Monday night (March 3) announced Dean’s sad passing, though a cause of death has not been disclosed. “Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending,” reads the post. While Dolly herself added, “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
The couple met in Nashville and married in 1966, and Dean maintained a private life despite Parton’s fame. Parton reflected on what made their longtime relationship so successful on an appearance on Bunnie XO’s Dumb Blonde podcast this past December. “He’s quiet, and I’m loud, and we’re funny. Oh, he’s hilarious,” Parton revealed about Dean. “And I think one of the things that’s made it last so long through the years is that we love each other, we respect each other, but we have a lot of fun. Anytime things get too much tension going on, either one of us finds a joke about it.” Dean and Parton never had any children, so he is survived by Parton and his siblings, Sandra and Donnie. (Consequence of Sound)