Dolly Parton, the legendary country singer, has released a poignant song dedicated to her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean. The song, titled “If You Hadn’t Been There,” is a beautiful expression of her love and grief.
Parton announced the song’s release on Instagram, sharing a picture of the couple from their early years. She wrote, “Carl and I fell in love when I was 18 and he was 23, and like all great love stories, they never end.” The couple was married for 58 years, until Dean’s passing on March 3, 2025, at the age of 82.
The song is a heartfelt tribute to Dean, with Parton singing, “If you hadn’t been there / Where would I be? / Without your trust, love, and belief.” The lyrics are a testament to the couple’s enduring love and partnership.
Parton had earlier paid tribute to her husband on Instagram, thanking fans for their condolences and messages. She wrote, “He is in God’s arms now, and I am okay with that. I will always love you.”
The couple’s love story began when they met at a Nashville laundromat. Dean had said in a rare public statement, “That was the day my life began… My first thought was ‘I’m gonna marry that girl.’ My second thought was, ‘Lord, she’s good lookin’.”
Parton has often spoken about her husband’s private nature, saying he preferred to stay out of the spotlight. Despite this, he was always her biggest supporter, and she has credited him with being her rock throughout her career.
The song “If You Hadn’t Been There” is a beautiful expression of Parton’s love and gratitude for her husband. It is a fitting tribute to their enduring love story, and a reminder of the impact one person can have on our lives.
