Dolly Parton announced on Monday the passing of her husband, Carl Dean. According to a spokesperson, "Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away on March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be interred in a private ceremony attended by his immediate family. He is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie."

The renowned country music artist expressed, "Carl and I shared many wonderful years together. Words cannot adequately convey the love we experienced for over 60 years. I appreciate your prayers and sympathy." The family has requested privacy during this challenging time. While the "Jolene" singer's relationship with her husband was largely kept out of the public eye, Parton has previously acknowledged that their long-lasting marriage, which has endured for decades, was characterized as "open."

Inside Dolly Parton's open marriage to husband of nearly 60 years

The couple's relationship began to flourish in 1964, close to a neighbourhood laundromat. Two years later, they entered into marriage and navigated various challenges together. Dolly Parton famously remarked, “Men are my weakness.” Nevertheless, her connection with her husband, which has lasted nearly six decades, has remained steadfast.

“Whether they are short, overweight, bald, or slender, I have found myself attracted to some rather unconventional men, but Carl understands that I will always return home, and my interactions with them are merely flirtatious and enjoyable,” she stated, as reported by The Mirror US.

In her 2017 autobiography, “Dolly on Dolly, Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton,” the Nashville icon elaborated, “He is not possessive, nor am I of him. He is aware of my flirtations, and he engages in them as well.” She further clarified, “Indeed, we maintain an open relationship, but it is not sexual in nature, and I would be furious if I suspected he were involved in that way.”

Despite the lightheartedness in their interactions, the couple shares a profound trust. “He would be just as protective. Ultimately, our love for each other is immense,” the singer remarked.

In the same 2017 publication, Dolly admitted to experiencing an “affair of the heart” outside of her “open, long marriage,” which ultimately left her feeling heartbroken.

How she kept the spark alive: Play dress-up

Thereafter, during a 2022 interview with E! News, Parton shared what helped “keep things spicy” in their relationship. “Every day, I put on some makeup and fix my hair because I think, 'Well, the whole world, I'm out here and everybody else sees me all dressed up, and I'm not going to just kind of go home and just flop on him'. Nobody wants to make out with a slouch! It's important to me that I look as good as I can,” she said.

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean didn't share any children despite initial plans

The renowned country music artist and her late spouse did not have any children. In a candid discussion with Billboard, she reflected on this aspect of her life: “During our courtship and after we married, we naturally assumed we would have children. We were not taking any measures to prevent it. In fact, we believed it was a possibility. We even had names picked out, but ultimately, it did not happen.”

As the couple remained without children, Dolly's perspective shifted towards a more spiritual understanding: “I believe that God has a plan for everything. It seems that His plan for me was not to have children so that I could embrace everyone else's children as my own.”

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