Dolly Parton’s late husband, Carl Dean, executed a will years before his death that laid out what the country superstar would receive and how to split up their money if she passed before him, Us Weekly can exclusively report.
Us obtained court documents filed by Parton, 79, following Dean’s death on March 3 at the age of 82. The entertainer told the court Dean signed a will on January 16, 2013, and never amended it.
She said she was his widow and they had no children. The sole beneficiary of his estate is the Carl Thomas Dean Trust, of which Parton is the trustee.
The filing said Dean did not own any real property in Tennessee but did own personal property and cash. Parton said her late husband was not an owner nor had any controlling interest in an ongoing business or economic enterprise that would be part of the estate.
Parton asked the court to appoint her executor of Dean’s estate.
In his will, Dean noted he had five nieces and nephews, and Parton had 14 nieces and nephews. He said if Parton was unable to serve as executor, he nominated his niece to take her place.
Dean said he would leave a handwritten note that laid out who got his personal and household effects. If the list was not found, he said Parton would be responsible for disturbing the property.
He said Parton was awarded all of his right, title, and interest in any personal effects relating to her music and entertainment career, including, without limitation, pictures, costumes, jewelry, musical instruments and equipment to Parton.
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If the singer had passed before him, Dean said the items would be distributed via his trust.
He said Parton will also receive all interest in furniture, art, automobiles and other items. Dean said if the singer passed before him, the items would be distributed equally among his and Parton’s nieces and nephews.
As Us previously reported, Parton announced Dean’s death on March 3 on social media.
She said, “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 social media post added, “He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie.”
Parton met Dean when he was 21 and she was 18. The two were hanging outside a laundromat. The future couple would wed two years later.
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In 2022, Parton spoke to Us about her relationship with Dean.
“We’re the perfect partners,” Parton said. “We both have a great sense of humor. … We’re able to solve any problem and any situation, making a joke about it and not letting it get too heavy, but we respect each other and we like each other. We lucked up, let’s put it that way.”
Dean, who was notoriously private, released a statement about Parton on their 50th anniversary in 2016.
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“My first thought was, ‘I’m gonna marry that girl,’” Dean said. “My second thought was, ‘Lord she’s good lookin’.’ And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth.”
As Us previously reported, Parton announced on September 28 she had to postpone her Las Vegas shows due to health issues.
