“Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82,” her statement read. “He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie.”

Dolly Parton has made her first public appearance since her husband, Carl Dean, died at the age of 82. The country icon turned up in person at the 2025 opening of Dollywood on Friday (March 14), putting aside her personal troubles to smile and wave at fans who had traveled from all over the country to be there.

Carl Dean only visited the park in East Tennessee when Dolly was off working somewhere else. Not wanting anyone to know that he was the owner's husband, he waited his turn in line to buy a ticket.