Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, were married nearly 59 years but rarely seen together. Here's a timeline of their relationship.

Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean. dollyparton/Instagram Dolly Parton and Carl Dean met outside a Nashville laundromat in 1964 and married in 1966.

Dean stayed out of the spotlight, and Parton addressed conspiracy theories that he didn't exist.

Dean died on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82.

Parton died on Tuesday at age 80.

Carl Dean , Dolly Parton's husband of nearly six decades, inspired some of Parton's most successful songs — even though they were rarely seen together.

Parton and Dean met outside a Tennessee laundromat in 1964 and wed in 1966.

Dean supported Parton's country music career from behind the scenes.

He so rarely appeared with her in public that Parton addressed conspiracy theories that he wasn't a real person.

Still, Dean was the inspiration behind many of Parton's famous songs, such as her mega-hit song "Jolene," and her last album, "Rockstar," released in 2023.

Parton died on Tuesday at age 80.

She was preceded in death by Dean, who died in March 2025 at the age of 82.

In a Tuesday video announcing Parton's death, Parton's nephew said that the beloved singer is "surely met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens." Here's a timeline of their relationship.

1964: Dolly Parton and Carl Dean met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville.

NASHVILLE - 1965: Country singer Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1965 in Nashville, Tennessee.