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Dolly Parton has spoken out for the first time since she announced her husband, Carl Dean's death.
The legendary singer announced Dean's death on March 3, revealing he died in Nashville at 82 and would be buried in a private ceremony.
Parton and Dean were married from 1966 until his death but had no children.
On Thursday, Parton posted a message of gratitude to her family, friends, and fans three days after her husband's death.
The grieving songstress wrote, "This is a love note to family, friends, and fans. Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you've sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl."
Parton continued, "I can't reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me."
She concluded by expressing her eternal love for Dean, writing, "He is in God's arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you."
Many of Parton's friends and fans expressed their love and support for her in the comment section of her post.
Author and poet Chelsie Diane wrote, "May we all learn this deep peace from Dolly."
Actress and model Angie Harmon commented, "You are so deeply loved!"
Socialite Paris Hilton added, "Sending you so much love Dolly."
A fan reflected on Parton's message, writing, "The I will always love you at the end. So sorry for your loss." The price of love is grief, and I'm sending you so many prayers mama!"
Another fan shared, "You are in my prayers, Dolly. You always are. But now you REALLY are. I'm thinking about you and I have you in my heart. I hope our love lifts you up somehow."
Parton broke the devastating news of her husband's death on March 3 via a statement on social media.
"Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82," the statement began. "He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending."
It continued, "He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie."
Parton also said, "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years."
She concluded, "Thank you for your prayers and sympathy. The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time."
Parton and Dean shared a private, enduring love for nearly six decades before his passing.
The couple rarely appeared in public together, with most photos from Parton's personal collection.
Parton, who married Dean in a small ceremony at 20, described him as "completely different" from her, adding that he was "not in show business."
They first met in a Nashville laundromat when Parton was 18. Despite their quiet life away from the spotlight, they cherished their time together, enjoying simple pleasures like sightseeing in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Parton, who never had children, found fulfillment in her marriage. In 2016, after 50 years together, the couple renewed their vows in a low-key ceremony at their Nashville home.
In December 2023, The Blast reported that the "Jolene" singer didn't have "a burning desire" to have kids. Hence, she decided to focus on her growing music career instead of starting a family.
Parton said at the time, "I haven't missed it like I thought I might. When you're a young couple, you think you're going to have kids, but it just wasn't one of those burning things for me. I had my career and my music, and I was traveling."
The iconic singer stressed that becoming a mother would have made her stay at home and worried to death about her kids.
In addition, she was hesitant to give birth to kids with everything "going on" in the world.
Parton explained, "With everything that's going on, I'd hate to be bringing a child into this world right now. I always say God didn't let me have children so that all kids could be mine."
Despite not having children, Parton and Dean enjoyed a blissful and exemplary union that stood the test of time.
