Remembering Carl Dean, partner to Dolly Parton for more than 60 years

By Patrick Jarenwattananon,

Gabriel Sanchez, Matthew Cloutier

Published March 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM EST

Carl Thomas Dean, who was with Dolly Parton for over 60 years, has died at age 82. A bank teller who had an evident crush on Dean inspired Parton's hit song "Jolene."

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Remembering Carl Dean, partner to Dolly Parton for more than 60 years