Dolly Parton is honoring her late husband, Carl Dean, with a touching new song. The country music icon, 79, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram. She posted it on Friday, March 7. Her post was alongside the artwork for her new single, If You Weren’t There.
“Carl and I fell in love when I was 18 and he was 23. Like all great love stories, they never truly end. They live on in memory and in song, and this one is for him,” Parton wrote.
The artwork features a nostalgic photo of a young Parton and Dean. The singer is wrapping her arms around her husband. He is seen wearing a white T-shirt. The emotional ballad includes lyrics like, “I wouldn’t be here / if you weren’t there.” In the second verse, Parton sings, “If you weren’t, well, who would I be?” You always saw the best of me.
On Monday, March 3, Parton announced that Dean had passed away at the age of 82 in Nashville. The family requested privacy as they navigated this difficult time.
“Carl and I spent so many wonderful years together,” Parton shared in an Instagram statement. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over six decades. Thank you for your prayers and understanding.”
The cause of death was not disclosed. The family shared that Dean would be laid to rest in a private ceremony. He is survived by Parton and his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie. (The Associated Press was the first to report the news.)
On Thursday, March 6, Parton expressed her gratitude to fans for their overwhelming support. She also shared how she is coping with the loss.
“This is a love note to my family, friends, and fans. Thank you for all the kind messages, cards, and flowers. We honor the loss of my beloved husband, Carl,” Parton wrote in an Instagram post. “I can’t respond to each of you personally, but please know your love means the world to me. He’s in God’s arms now, and I find peace in that. I will always love you.”
Parton and Dean married in 1966, two years after they first met outside a laundromat in Nashville. Their love story began on the same day Parton moved to the city to pursue her music career.
Throughout her decades as a country music legend, Parton has written several songs about Dean, including Tomorrow Is Forever. The track was originally released in 1970 as a duet with Porter Wagoner. She re-recorded it in 2016 for her album Pure and Simple, which focused on themes of love.
Dean, who was known for his private nature, was a constant source of inspiration for Parton’s music. Her enduring love for him shines through in her timeless songs, ensuring that their bond remains alive in her art.
