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Dolly Parton shared a heartfelt statement in her first post since she confirmed her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, has died. He was 82.
âThis is a love note to family, friends, and fans,â Parton said in a new statement on Thursday (March 6). âThank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that youâve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl. I canât reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in Godâs arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you.â
Parton, 79, announced on Monday evening (March 3) that Dean passed away in Nashville, Tennessee. She said her husband would be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family in attendance. The family asked for privacy as they mourn Deanâs loss. Parton said at the time: âCarl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words canât do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.â
The beloved country star has since received an outpouring of condolences from fans and fellow artists, including Tanya Tucker, Lee Brice, Lainey Wilson, Martina McBride, Lauren Alaina, the family of late legend Loretta Lynn, and many more.
Parton met Dean on her first day in Nashville, Tennessee, where she moved to pursue her dreams after growing up in East Tennessee. They met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville, and got married in a âsimpleâ and âprivateâ Georgia wedding on May 30, 1966.
Just a few months before losing Dean, Parton shared rare details about the coupleâs decades-long relationship in a conversation with Bunnie Xo on her podcast, Dumb Blonde. Parton said at that time that a boyfriend was âthe last thingâ she wanted when she first moved to Nashville, but she quickly met Dean and spent 60 years with him.
âHeâs a good guy. Heâs quiet and Iâm loud. Weâre funny â oh, heâs hilarious â and I think one of the things thatâs made it last so long through the years, we love each other. We respect each other. But we have a lot of fun,â Parton said. âAny time things get too â too much tension going on, either one of us can find a joke about it to where itâll break the tension. âŚWe never fought back and forth. And Iâm glad now that we never did because once you start that, that becomes a lifetime thing. Iâve seen it in so many people. And I thought, âI will never start that.â I couldnât bear to think that heâd say something I couldnât take. It would hurt because Iâm a very sensitive person, toward other people and myself.
âHeâs good,â she said. âEverybody loves Carl.â