Carl Thomas Dean, Dolly Parton’s ultra-private husband, has died at the age of 82.

Dolly broke the news on social media on Monday, March 3. While she did not mention a cause of death, Carl had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2019.

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

“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.”

The family asks for privacy during this difficult time.

Dolly met Carl Dean on her very first day in Nashville in 1964, when she was an aspiring artist looking for a break. He approached her at a laundromat and struck up a conversation, and the couple quickly became inseparable. Dolly described their meeting as “love at first sight.”

Dolly and Carl kept their relationship very private and she’s only shared a handful of photos of her husband over the years, but she talked about it plenty.

She says she wrote her 2012 song, “From Here to the Moon and Back,” for Carl ... and they renewed their vows in 2016, which was their 50th anniversary.

The couple would’ve celebrated their 59th anniversary this year on May 30.