Although his wife loves to be in the limelight, husband Carl Dean hides in the shadows. Since getting hitched back in 1966, Parton has often talked highly of her “loving” relationship with Dean.

Many people have even used the beautiful country singer’s long-standing marriage as an example of Christian virtue and goodness. Last month, photographers captured images of Carl Dean out in public for the first time in decades.

The 77-year-old recluse, whose been married to Parton for 53-years, was caught outside of the family estate in Brentwood, Tennessee. He was aided by a personal assistant as he traversed the public place.

Although Parton has remained in the spotlight for more than five decades, her husband has avoided being photographed since the early 1970s.

However, images of Carl Dean, gray-haired, were published while out in public, for the first time in a long while.. His reclusive lifestyle remains a mystery in contrast to his wife’s limelight.

A source, close to the married couple revealed his reclusive habits.

“He barely leaves the house and doesn’t really interact with people unless he absolutely has to. The total opposite of Dolly. Carl is still extremely reclusive, and in any given week, he will only leave the house a handful of times.”

With a lifestyle like that, it’s amazing that he’s been able to keep his health in top shape.

A source claimed that “Carl lives in a different building on the couple’s property in Brentwood, Tennessee.”

The couple first met back in 1964 outside of a Nashville laundromat. Two years later, the pair tied the knot at a family affair in Ringgold, Georgia. Only Dolly’s mom attended as well as the pastor’s wife to act as a witness.

Parton and Dean’s marriage has lasted for five decades. They live in separate houses so may not share the type of intimacy many couples do. Dolly also admits that Dean has only seen her perform live once in 2011, when she appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show

Did you know this about Dolly?

Before she was a country music superstar, Dolly was a kid born in a one room cabin in Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.