AceShowbiz - Carl Dean, the devoted husband of music icon Dolly Parton for nearly 60 years, has passed away at the age of 82. His death was announced by the singer as she expressed her profound grief and gratitude for the outpouring of sympathy they have received.

"Carl and I spent so 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," Parton wrote.

Dean passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, and will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

The couple's enduring bond was a cornerstone of both their personal lives and Parton's music career. The love story between Parton and Dean began in a most unexpected place - the Wishy Washy Laundromat, on the day she moved to Nashville at the age of 18.

Reflecting on their first meeting, Parton said, "I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about."

They tied the knot two years later on May 30, 1966, in a small ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia. In 2016, to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, the couple renewed their vows.

Dean was a businessman who owned an asphalt-paving company in Nashville. Despite Parton's global fame, the couple maintained a relatively private life. Dean, being the private individual he was, rarely accompanied Parton to public events.

In her 1994 memoirs, Parton joked that he had only seen her perform once, further perpetuating the mystique surrounding their relationship.

However, Dean's influence on Parton's music is undeniable. He famously inspired her timeless hit "Jolene," which tells the story of a woman confronting another woman she fears will steal her husband.

Parton revealed that the real-life inspiration for the song came from a flirty, red-haired bank teller who seemed to take a special interest in Dean. "She got this terrible crush on my husband," Parton said in a 2008 NPR interview. "And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention."

Parton also credited him with inspiring her 2023 "Rockstar" album, as he had a profound love for rock 'n' roll. The album includes some of his favorite tracks, like Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" and Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."

The couple did not have children of their own but took on the role of raising several of Parton's younger siblings. She's also the godmother of popstar Miley Cyrus.

Despite the rumors and doubts surrounding Dean's existence due to their private life, Parton often humorously addressed them. In a 1984 interview, she refuted claims that Dean was a figment of her imagination, "A lot of people say there's no Carl Dean, that he's just somebody I made up to keep other people off me."

Carl Dean's passing marks the end of a significant chapter in both Dolly Parton's life and the music world. His quiet strength and unwavering support behind the scenes played a pivotal role in shaping the Dolly Parton we know and love today.