Dolly Parton Honors Late Husband Carl Thomas Dean With New Song “If You Hadn’t Been There”

March 7, 2025: Country music legend Dolly Parton has shared a touching tribute to her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 58. On Friday, Dolly took to Instagram to announce her new song, “If You Hadn’t Been There,” which she dedicated to Dean.

Along with the announcement, Parton posted a throwback picture of the couple, accompanied by an emotional message for her late husband. 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. They live in memory and in song, and I dedicate this to him. ‘If You Hadn’t Been There.’”

Dolly and Carl had been together for nearly six decades. The couple married on May 30, 1966, in Ringgold, Georgia. They had been dating since Dolly was 18, and their bond grew stronger over the years, though Carl was rarely seen in the public eye. Even in the early years of their marriage, before Dolly rose to fame as a country-pop crossover star, Carl preferred to maintain a low profile.

In 2016, to mark their 50th wedding anniversary, Dolly’s official website featured a rare photo of the couple and dedicated a special page to their enduring relationship. The page highlighted the couple’s shared journey, noting how they overcame many of life’s challenges, just like any other married couple. “They enjoyed 50 years of wedded bliss despite facing many of life’s obstacles common to most married couples and plenty of unique challenges of their own,” the website shared.

Reflecting on their lasting love, Dolly wrote the song “From Here to the Moon and Back” with Carl in mind. The lyrics, “From here to the moon and back, Who else in this world will love you like that?” encapsulate their deep bond, and Dolly had previously mentioned how special this song was for them. Now, with her latest release, “If You Hadn’t Been There,” Dolly honors the memory of her beloved husband, celebrating their lifelong love and the lasting impact Carl had on her life and music.