Dolly Parton's sister gives family update after singer's beloved husband of almost 60 years Carl Dean died aged 82
Dolly Parton's sister has given a family update following the death of the singer's husband Carl Dean aged 82.
Dean passed away on March 3 after 59 years married to the Jolene singer in what was a notoriously private relationship.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Dolly's sister Stella Parton has provided an update on how the family are doing following the sad loss.
She said: 'On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl's family we appreciate your prayers at this time.'
On Monday a statement was released on behalf of Dolly announcing Dean's death which read: '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. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie.'
It also including a touching message from Dolly herself.
Dolly said: 'Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.
Carl Dean passed away on March 3 after 59 years married to Dolly Parton in what was a notoriously private relationship
Taking to X, formerly Twitter , Dolly's sister Stella Parton (right) has provided an update on how the family are doing following the sad loss
'Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.'
It concluded with: 'The family asks for privacy during this difficult time.'
Dolly and Dean's enduring relationship has been a constant throughout the singer's career. From it's very beginning to her now legendary status as a country music icon.
The pair met on the very day Dolly moved to Nashville to pursue her music career when they bumped into each other in a laundromat in 1964.
Two years later they married with only Dolly's mother as the witness.
In a 1976 interview with The New York Times, Dolly, 79, recalled that day and admitted: 'I'd come to Nashville with dirty clothes.
'I was in such a hurry to get here. And after I'd put my clothes in the machine, I started walkin' down the street, just lookin' at my new home, and this guy hollered at me, and I waved.
'Bein' from the country, I spoke to everybody. And he came over and, well, it was Carl, my husband.'
Dolly and Dean's enduring relationship has been a constant throughout the singer's career. From it's very beginning to her now legendary status as a country music icon
A touching message from Dolly herself read: 'Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years'
Dean in 2019. In a rare interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2016, Dean opened about the day he first set eyes on Dolly. 'My first thought was, "I'm gonna marry that girl"'
It's no secret that Dean was a very private man - especially when it came to his romance with Dolly - with Dolly even joking in an interview in 1984 that people think Dean is 'just somebody I made up to keep other people off me'.
The limelight did sometimes happen to find him such as when Dolly penned her classic hit single 'Jolene' - which reached No.1 in the country charts in 1974 - which was about a red-haired bank clerk that was flirting with Dean.
In a rare interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2016, Dean opened about the day he first set eyes on Dolly.
'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. I wouldn't trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth,' he gushed.
No cause of death was announced. Dean will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending.
