“It was always just us” Dolly Parton’s husband’s will reveals lifelong devotion

Dolly Parton’s late husband, Carl Dean, left his entire estate to her when he passed away in March 2024 at age 82. Dean, who famously stayed out of the spotlight during their nearly six-decade marriage, signed his will back in 2013, leaving everything to the country legend who had always called him her “biggest supporter.”

According to newly released legal documents obtained by Us Weekly, Dean’s will includes not just property and financial assets but also personal belongings tied to Parton’s extraordinary career. The items listed include costumes, photographs, cars, and memorabilia that trace her rise from a Tennessee farm girl to one of music’s most beloved icons.

The will also references a possible handwritten note that might give additional instructions about where specific personal items should go. If the note cannot be located, Parton herself will decide how those belongings are distributed. In the filing, she also requested to be appointed executor of the estate, giving her full authority to manage her late husband’s affairs.

Parton, now 79, met Dean in 1964 when she was just starting out in Nashville. The story has become country music legend—she was doing her laundry when Dean drove by, noticed her, and struck up a conversation. They married two years later and stayed together for nearly 60 years. In 2016, they quietly renewed their vows to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Throughout Parton’s fame, Dean remained a private figure. While she filled concert halls and appeared on television, he preferred life away from Hollywood’s attention.

Yet by all accounts, he was deeply supportive of her career. Parton has often joked that Dean never liked the spotlight but always cheered her on from home, listening to her music and encouraging her to keep performing.