On Thursday, Dolly Parton paid a touching tribute to her late husband Carl Dean by releasing a heartfelt new ballad in his honor.
Three days following the announcement of her 79-year-old country music legend husband’s death at 82, the song titled “If You Hadn’t Been There” was unveiled.
Dolly shared news about her new song on Instagram along with the cover art, which is an old picture depicting her standing behind Carl, embracing him from behind, both of them smiling at the camera.
‘At the age of 18, my affection for Carl blossomed when he was 23, much like a timeless romance does. This love lives on in our memories and through melodies, which is why I’m dedicating this post to him.’
The initial melody of the latest song was played gently on a piano, an acoustic guitar, and a pedal steel guitar, followed by Dolly’s first words that repeated the title.
‘If you hadn’t been there / Where would I be?’ she sings.


She continues to commend Dean for his ‘faithfulness, affection, and confidence,’ despite the fact that they’ve experienced both highs and lows.
In the second part of her song, Dolly expresses a modified take on the “Hadn’t you been here, then who else might I be?
In the second verse, the drums join in, providing accompaniment for her vocals alongside the piano and guitar, making the overall sound fuller and more robust.
She goes on to praise her love for ‘always see[ing] the best in me.’

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2025-03-07 09:20