Why did Dolly Parton write 'Jolene'? How husband Carl Dean inspired her biggest hit
Dolly Parton's husband Carl Dean, who has died at age 82 , was the inspiration behind one of Parton's biggest hits, "Jolene."
The country music icon shared the news of Dean's death on Monday evening on social media.
"Carl and I spent many wonderful years together," Parton said . "Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathies."
In their early years of marriage, here's how Parton's relationship with Dean played a role in the creation of one of her most iconic songs.
Here's what inspired Dolly Parton to write 'Jolene'
A bolt of inspiration struck Parton in the 1960s when she was signing an autograph for a beautiful little girl.
"She had this beautiful red hair, this beautiful skin, these beautiful green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, for an autograph," Parton told NPR in 2008 .
"I said, 'Well, you're the prettiest little thing I ever saw. So what is your name?' And she said, 'Jolene.' And I said, 'Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.' I said, 'That is pretty. That sounds like a song. I'm going to write a song about that.'"
Parton had recently married Dean in 1966 and combined her inspiration from the name Jolene with a story about another red-head in her life, a bank teller who was getting a little too friendly with her new husband.
"She got this terrible crush on my husband," Parton said to NPR. "And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention.
"It was kinda like a running joke between us — when I was saying, 'Hell, you're spending a lot of time at the bank. I don't believe we've got that kind of money.' So it's really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one."
From there, Parton's 1973 unfolded and took the world by storm.
The simple 200-word tune has one of the most iconic choruses in country music: "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / I'm beggin' of you, please don't take my man / Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene / Please don't take him just because you can."
And of course, Parton had to shout of her red-headed muses.
"Your beauty is beyond compare / With flaming locks of auburn hair / With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green," she sings. "Your smile is like a breath of spring / Your voice is soft like summer rain / And I cannot compete with you, Jolene."
The song spent 19 weeks on the Billboard Country Chart, hitting number one in February 1974.
The tune has also been covered by countless artists, including Beyoncé , Miley Cyrus, Olivia Newton-John and The White Stripes.
More: The 10 best 'Jolene' covers from Beyoncé's new song to the White Stripes and Miley Cyrus
Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, dies
Dolly Parton's longtime husband, Carl Dean, died on Monday, March 3, in Nashville.
Dean rarely made public appearances with Parton, but quietly cheered her on throughout her career.
Dean's unwavering support was a large factor in Parton's perseverance and career success, Parton told Knox News in 2024.
"There's always that safety, that security, that strength," Parton said. "He's a good man, and we've had a good life and he's been a good husband."
The couple met in 1964 when Parton was 18 years old on the day she moved to Nashville.
As Parton walked out of the Wishy Washy Laundromat, Dean, then 21, waved and spoke to Parton. The two were married in 1966.
Dean, who was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie, will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family.
Contributing: Diana Levya, Devarrick Turner
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why did Dolly Parton write Jolene? Husband Carl Dean inspired the hit
