Dolly Parton Mourns the Loss of Her Beloved Husband, Carl Dean, After 60 Years of Marriage

Announcing the March 3 death of her beloved husband, Carl Dean, at 82, Dolly Parton told fans, “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years.”

The pair wed in 1966, and as Dolly’s career grew, her husband became the biggest man of mystery in the country music world, never accompanying his wife on tour or escorting her to awards shows. “But he was not Bigfoot, but a real person,” wrote Alanna Nash, one of the few journalists to meet him.

For Dolly, 79, Carl was everything-though she admitted with a twinkle in her eye, “He’s not my biggest fan. He likes bluegrass and hard rock music.” While the country legend knew the end was near, an insider tells Star she’s still devastated by the loss. “Carl was Dolly’s rock,” says the insider. The “I Will Always Love You” singer will likely channel her pain into art, yet worried friends are urging her to slow down. “That’s not Dolly’s way,” says the insider. “Work and doing what she loves will help her deal with the loneliness of losing Carl.”