In 2008, the singer told NPR that the inspiration behind "Jolene" was a pretty bank teller whom she and Dean met long ago.

Dolly Parton has explained that her 1973 hit "Jolene" was inspired by her husband Carl Thomas Dean, who has died at age 82.

More: How Dolly Parton honored husband Carl Dean after his death and what to know about their 'many wonderful years together' ...

So what is your name?' And she said, 'Jolene.' And I said, 'Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.' I said, 'That is pretty. That ...

And she said, ‘Jolene.’" "And I said, well, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I said, that is pretty, I said, that sounds like a song. I'm going to write a song about that." "Jolene" became one of ...

courtesy Dolly Parton Dolly Parton's famed ballad, "Jolene," was "loosely based on a little bit of truth" by a woman who had a crush on the singer's late husband, Carl Dean. Dean's death was ...

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.'" In the song, Parton sings that ...