Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years Carl Dean dies aged 82

The country singer announced the sad news on Instagram.

The 79-year-old singer announced the sad news on Instagram that her husband of nearly 60 years passed away on Monday, March 3.

The country legend wrote in the post: "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy."

The announcement further added that Dean, who is survived by his siblings Donnie and Sandra, would be laid to rest in a private ceremony.

His family have asked for privacy at this time.

The couple met in 1964 outside a Nashville laundromat, the same day the Jolene singer moved to Tennessee.

The pair became inseparable and were married a year later.

"I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me)," the musical icon shared on her website almost decade ago in a post marking their 50th anniversary.

"He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about."

The couple kept their relationship private, only being spotted together in public occasionally.

While they kept away from the public eye, Parton was never shy to discuss her loving relationship.

"I like it when people say, 'How did it last so long?' I say, 'I stay going'" she told ET Canada in 2022.

"There’s a lot to be said about that.

"So we’re not in each other’s face all the time. He’s not in the business, so we have different interests, but yet we have the things we love to do together. So it was meant to be, I think. He was the one I was supposed to have and vice versa," she said.