Dolly Parton found the love of her life back in the ’60s when she first met her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, an accomplished businessman. The two met in Nashville and married in 1966. Although Dolly became one of country music’s biggest voices, the public rarely ever saw Carl. Nevertheless, the two enjoyed a long and happy marriage until he died in March 2025. While Carl and Dolly likely lived a wealthy lifestyle thanks to her net worth, that did not define the couple’s love. In fact, one of their earliest dates was at a McDonald’s, Dolly once revealed.
Dolly confirmed the news of her husband’s death on March 3, 2025. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” the “9 to 5” artist said in a statement posted to her Instagram. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
Below, learn more about Carl, his own career and his life with Dolly.
Carl was 82 years old when he died in March 2025.
Multiple outlets reported that Carl had a substantial net worth of around $20 million, while Dolly currently has a net worth of $650 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. Carl worked as a businessman and owned an asphalt-paving business in Nashville.
No cause of death was given when Carl died. However, TMZ reported that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2019.
