The 79-year-old country music legend had been married to Carl Dean since 1966 when she announced on Monday that he had died at age 82, and now her sister Stella Parton has taken to social media to thank fans for their support.
"On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl's family we appreciate your prayers at this time," she wrote on X.
Dean's death was revealed with a social media post from the Jolene hit maker's team.
"Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82," the message to Instagram said.
"He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie."
Parton shared her own statement alongside the post, but did not reveal a cause of death.
"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," Parton said.
"The family asks for privacy during this difficult time."
While Parton has been renowned in the music industry for decades, Dean lived his life out of the spotlight and ran an asphalt-laying company in his native Nashville, Tennessee, for several years.
Just months before his death, Parton explained that it just "felt natural" to keep her marriage away from the limelight.
She told Britain's Hello! magazine: "My husband and I have always enjoyed each other. I love to do stuff with him; we have a little RV and like to travel around, especially in Tennessee – we love to get out just for the weekend or day trips. We've been all over the country in it.
"He's never liked going out to dinner and all that stuff. And although I love to go out with friends to a nice dinner and have fun, it just felt natural to me to keep my life private."
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