Dolly Parton's hit song was released in October 1973 and has since been covered by dozens of musicians. She previously said that the ballad was "loosely based on a little bit of truth" by a woman who had a crush on the singer's late husband,

Dolly Parton has paid tribute to her late husband Carl Dean, following his death on Monday. Dean, who was 82 years old, was married to the country singer for nearly 60 years. On Thursday, the “Jolene” singer turned to Instagram to thank those who had reached out to her regarding the news.

Here's how Dolly Parton's relationship with Carl Dean in their early years of marriage played a role in the creation of one of her most iconic songs.