Dolly Parton addressed her ‘open marriage’ with husband Carl (Image: GETTY)
husband Carl Dean has died at the age of 82, the country legend confirmed in a statement. In a heartbreaking announcement made on Monday morning, Dolly confirmed Carl’s death after nearly six decades as husband and wife.
The country music icon, 79, was known for keeping her marriage private and the couple kept their relationship out of the public eye.
On one occasion she did address their romance amid claims they were in an “open” marriage.
Dolly previously shed light on the truth about the claims, quipping that they were in an “open” relationship when it came to flirting.
Despite being linked to other men – including Burt Reynolds – she often said how Carl was never concerned, and even found it vaguely amusing.
Dolly Parton pictured with her husband Carl (Image: dollyparton.com)
Speaking to The Mirror Dolly said: “Sometimes he goes to the grocery store and he sees a magazine with some story about me and he’ll get it and bring it home and say, ‘I see you’re having Burt Reynolds’s baby again’.”
But Dolly shut down any claims the couple had an open relationship.
She added: “He has seen so much of it over the years. He’s not jealous and I’m not jealous of him. He knows I flirt. He flirts too.”
“Yes, it’s an open relationship, but NOT sexually and I would kill him if I thought he was doing that,” she said. “He would shoot me too. At the end of the day we love each other madly.”
The pair famously met at Nashville’s Wishy-Washy laundromat when she was just 18.
Dolly’s comments about their relationship have resurfaced following the news that Carl died in Nashville on Monday.
In a heartbreaking tribute shared to , Dolly reflected on the “wonderful years” the pair spent together during their 60 years of marriage.
“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,” she wrote.
Carl is also survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by his immediate family.