Dolly Hidin Her Hubby Heartbreak!

53-Year marriage shaken as frail recluse carl fights alzheimer's

Feeble, doddering and facing death, Carl Dean — the reclusive husband of country superstar Dolly Parton — is a shadow of the six-foot-six hunk he was when last pictured four decades ago!

The National ENQUIRER mounted a cross-state investigation to track down the mystery man who stole Dolly’s heart 55 years ago — and snapped these bombshell world exclusive photos of Carl.

The ENQUIRER’s months-long probe also made a heartbreaking discovery — sources said once-strapping Carl, 77, suffers from brain-robbing Alzheimer’s disease and no longer shares a home with his wife.

“Carl lives in a different building on the couple’s property in Brentwood, Tenn.,” revealed an insider. “He barely leaves the house, and doesn’t really interact with people unless he absolutely has to — the total opposite of Dolly.”

The two met outside a laundromat in Nashville in 1964 and tied the knot in 1966.