Carl Dean

Details
- Also Known As:
- Dolly Parton's husband
- Hometown:
- Nashville
Bio:
Carl Dean (born Carl Thomas Dean on July 20, 1942 in Nashville, Tennessee) was a retired businessman and the husband of country music legend Dolly Parton. After meeting Dolly in 1964 on the day she moved to Nashville — in a laundromat, of all places — they immediately fell in love. The two married just two years later on May 30, 1966 in Ringgold, Georgia, with only Dolly’s mom there as a witness. They’ve seemingly lived in Nashville ever since, at one point living in a 23-bedroom house! As Dolly rose to fame and eventually hit superstardom, Carl remained out of the spotlight as he ran his own asphalt-laying company. Despite Dolly referring to her husband as a “loner” who doesn’t like “all the hullabaloo” surrounding her fame, their love never died. Carl died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
Best Known For:
Carl is best known for being married to county singer Dolly Parton.
Personal Life:
Dolly and Carl never had any children, as Dolly thought it just wasn’t meant for her to have kids of her own. The couple presumably hasn’t moved from Nashville since they first met.