Dolly Parton is not just a legend in country music but in the music industry in general. Apart from her musical prowess, she is also know for her absolutely sweet personality.
When people learned that she lost her husband of 58 years, Carl Thomas Dean, earlier this week, they were understandably heartbroken for her.
Now, the singer has released a song which expresses exactly how she feels about her loss.
Dolly Parton is paying tribute to her beloved late husband, Carl Thomas Dean in a the best way possoble. The 79 year old singer revealed on Thursday, March 6, the title of her track, โIf You Hadnโt Been Thereโ on Instagram. In the post with the announcement, she shared a picture of the couple together from their earlier years.
โCarl and I fell in love when I was 18 and he was 23, and like all great love stories, they never end,โ the Country singer wrote in honor of her late husband who passed away earlier this week on Monday, March 3, 2025 at the age of 82 years old.
โThey live in memory and in song, and I dedicate this to him,โ she added, referring to the heartbreaking song.
โIf you hadnโt been there / Where would I be? / Without your trust, love and belief,โ theย country musicย singer sings in the beginning of the track.
โThe ups and downs / Weโve always shared / And I wouldnโt be here, if you hadnโt been there,โ she goes on to sing.
She shared a tribute for him before she shared the song. The couple tied the knot in 1966. While Partonโs star rose, Dean chose to remain ultra private. In their almost 60 years of marriage, he remained largely out of the spotlight.
Earlier this week, after Deanโs passing,ย Dolly Partonย took to Instagram and wrote, โThis is a love note to family, friends, and fans. Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that youโve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl.โ
โI canโt reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me,โ she added.
โHe is in Godโs arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you,โ she wrote.
When she confirmed her belovedโsย deathย on Monday, sheย wrote, โCarl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words canโt do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.โ
The couple started dating after they met at a Nashville laundromat. In a rare public statement made in 2016, Deanย said, โand that was the day my life began,โ he said in 2016 in a rare public statement.
โMy first thought was โIโm gonna marry that girl.โ My second thought was, โLord sheโs good lookin,’โ he added humorously.
Dolly Partonย told PEOPLEย in 2019 of her private husband opting for a quieter life, โHeโs always supporting me as long as I donโt try to drag him in on it. Heโs always been my biggest fan behind the scenes, but heโs at home.โ
Her newly released song titled โIf You Hadnโt Been Thereโย echoesย her previous tribute to her beloved uncle, Billy Earl Owens who passed away in April 2021 when he was 85 years old.
โI knew my heart would break when he passed, and it did,โ she wroteย on Xย at the time. She wrote in her tribute to him, โIโll start this eulogy by saying I wouldnโt be here if he hadnโt been there.โ
You can listen to the songย here on Dolly Partonโs official YouTube channel.
We send our deepest condolences and best wishes to Dolly Parton and her family as they deal with the heartbreaking loss of Carl Thomas Dean. Share this with others so they can hear Dollyโs lovely tribute to her late love.
