When was Dolly Parton’s husband diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? Health struggles explored as Carl Dean passes away

Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband, passed away in Nashville on Monday, March 3, 2025, the iconic singer-songwriter’s rep announced via her Instagram handle.

The official statement did not reveal any cause of death, but the country musician’s spouse was battling with Alzheimer’s Disease for years. Carl Dean was reportedly diagnosed with the brain disorder in 2019.

Parton was by her husband’s side while he was struggling with health-related issues. The singer kept her personal life private but also expressed her plans to slow down and not tour again during a 2022 interview with Pollstar,

“I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore. I’ve done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy. I like to stay a little closer to home with my husband.”

She continued,

“We’re getting older now, and I don’t want to be gone for four or five weeks at a time. Something could happen. I would not feel right about that, if I were gone and somebody needed me. Or I would feel bad if I had to leave a tour if somebody got sick at home and needed me and then I had to walk out on the fans.”

In 2024, Dolly Parton reaffirmed her stance of supporting her family and Carl Dean whenever they need it. The country legend was speaking to Entertainment Tonight when she said,

“I've always said that if my husband was in ill health or needed me, I would most definitely pull way back.”

During her conversation with the outlet, the Rockstar singer praised her husband for supporting her throughout her career. She described Dean as “my best love and best friend” and said he had “always been proud” of her.

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Dolly Parton’s husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away on March 3, 2025

In a statement, the musician’s rep revealed that Carl Dean is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie. It also quoted Dolly Parton,

“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.”

Dolly Parton met Carl Dean for the first time in 1964 in Nashville, Tennessee. They tied the knot two years later, on May 30, 1966. On their 50th anniversary, the couple renewed their vows. She told People about her wedding,

“We’re going to get married again! I’ll have a beautiful wedding dress ’cause I didn’t have a big, long wedding dress when we got married and we've got a suit for him, so we’re going to dress up and take a bunch of pictures.”

Carl and Dolly had been married for 58 years at the time of the former’s passing. They didn’t have a child of their own. Parton is one of the 12 siblings and has many nephews and nieces. She told the Today show hosts in 2017,

“God has a plan for everything. I think it probably was his plan for me not to have kids so everybody's kids could be mine. And they are now.”

Dolly is the godmother of Miley Cyrus, the Hannah Montana star, whom she once called “little Elvis.”