Dolly Parton offered an emotional tribute to her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who passed away earlier this week. The iconic country singer released a touching new song, "If You Hadn't Been There," via an Instagram post on Friday. "I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old," Parton expressed. "We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him."
The couple enjoyed a loving partnership that lasted six decades before Dean's passing at the age of 82. In the song, Parton's voice quivers with emotion as she sings poignant lines like, "If you hadn't been there / Where would I be? / Without your trust, love, and belief." She continues with heartfelt lyrics reflecting on his encouragement: "You made me dream / More than I dared / And I wouldn't be here / If you hadn't been there."
The track's cover features an old photograph of Parton embracing Dean, symbolizing their deep bond. In gratitude to her followers, Parton also expressed appreciation for their condolences on her Instagram. "This is a love note to family, friends, and fans," she shared on Thursday. "Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you've sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl. I can't reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in God's arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you."
Their love story began in Nashville outside a laundromat, where they first met when Parton was an 18-year-old aspiring artist. “I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),” she recalled of their initial encounter. Two years later, in 1966, they tied the knot. Though they led a private life together, Dean remained mostly out of the public eye and the couple did not have children. Parton's heartfelt tribute resonates as a testament to a love that endures even beyond life.
