Dolly Parton honors late husband Carl Dean with new song 'If You Hadn’t Been There' days after his death

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dolly Parton released an emotional ballad, 'If You Hadn’t Been There', on Friday, March 7, in honor of her husband Carl Dean, who died on Monday at the age of 82.

The 79-year-old country music legend took to Instagram to share the deeply personal song, expressing her grief and eternal love for her late spouse.

Dolly Parton's emotional musical tribute to Carl Dean

Speaking about her musical tribute, Dolly Parton who has been married to Carl Dean for nearly 60 years said, "I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old."

"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 country legend shared.

The song’s lyrics serve as an intimate reflection on their decades-long relationship, with Parton opening the track by singing, "If you hadn't been there / Where would I be?"

Throughout the song, she praises Dean’s unwavering "trust, love, and belief."

"If you hadn't been you / Well, who would I be?" Parton continues in the lyrics, suggesting that Dean played an integral role in shaping her into the person she is today.

The heartfelt tribute also describes how Dean’s "loving arms have cradled me" and "held me close" through the years.

Carl Dean's battle with Alzheimer’s

According to reports, Carl Dean had been battling Alzheimer's disease for several years before his death.

A source revealed in 2022 that Dean had been struggling with memory loss since his diagnosis in 2019, as per OK Magazine.

"Dolly will enter a room to talk to Carl, and she sometimes sees a look of bewilderment on his face, like he doesn’t know where he is or even who she is," the insider claimed.

The source also noted that the disease had deeply affected Parton, who had always envisioned their "golden years" together in a much different way.

"The disease has shattered Dolly’s dreams about what their golden years would be. She’s frightened it’s only going to get worse," they said at the time.

Dolly Parton reportedly regrets not spending enough time with Carl Dean

Following Carl Dean’s death, Dolly Parton announced the heartbreaking news via an Instagram post, stating, "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy."

She also confirmed that Dean would be laid to rest in a private ceremony with only immediate family in attendance.

He is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie.

While mourning the loss of Dean, Parton has reportedly been reflecting on the time they spent together and the sacrifices they made throughout their marriage.

According to sources, she carries some regret about not being able to spend as much time with Dean as she wished.

"Dolly carries a lot of guilt she didn't get to spend enough time with Carl during their marriage," a source revealed.

"Carl was a real homebody who never liked attention. He only attended three of her concerts. There were times in their marriage when they only saw each other eight weeks in a whole calendar year," they added.