Dolly Parton's sister gives funeral update after singer's husband Carl Dean died

Country legend Dolly Parton's sister has given the first family update after the beloved singer's husband Carl Dean died on March at 82.

The couple, who wed in 1966 after first meeting in 1964 in a Nashville laundromat, were married for over half a century but kept their marriage notoriously private.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Dolly's sister Stella Parton provided fans with an update on how the family are doing following their loss.

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She said: "On behalf of my sister Dolly, our family and Carl's family we appreciate your prayers at this time."

On Monday a statement was released on behalf of Dolly announcing Dean's death which read: "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."

It also included a message from Dolly herself, which 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 message concluded with:"The family asks for privacy during this difficult time."

While she did not name the cause of death, she shared in 2019 that Carl had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

Fans stormed the comments to share their condolences, with one saying: "We are all here to support you, Dolly. We ALL love you."

"I’m sending so much love and prayers, I am so sorry," another wrote.

A third said: "Dear Dolly! I’m sending you my blessings. It was such an honor to have worked with you in your movie Mountain Magic Christmas. May Carl rest in peace. Lots of love."

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"The whole world is wrapping their arms around you, Dolly. You are the definition of “beloved” and we all send our love and prayers," a fourth fan wrote in support of the singer.

A final fan noted: "I’m sorry for your loss Dolly- you had a love that spanned the ages and that runs deep and forever."

Dolly and Dean met on the very day Dolly moved to Nashville to pursue her music career. They bumped into each other in a laundromat in 1964 and two years later they married with only Dolly's mother as the witness.

In a 1976 interview with The New York Times, Dolly, 79, recalled that day and admitted: "I'd come to Nashville with dirty clothes.

"I was in such a hurry to get here. And after I'd put my clothes in the machine, I started walkin' down the street, just lookin' at my new home, and this guy hollered at me, and I waved.

"Bein' from the country, I spoke to everybody. And he came over and, well, it was Carl, my husband."

However, Dolly and Dean's marriage remained very private throughout the decades.

Dolly even joked in an interview in 1984 that people think Dean is "just somebody I made up to keep other people off me."

The singer penned her classic hit single Jolene - which reached No.1 in the country charts in 1974 - about a red-haired bank clerk that was flirting with Dean.

In a rare interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2016, Dean opened about the day he first set eyes on Dolly.

He said: "My first thought was, 'I'm gonna marry that girl.' My second thought was, 'Lord she's good lookin.'"

Dean added: "And that was the day my life began. I wouldn't trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth."