Dolly Parton has released a new musical tribute to her late husband, Carl Dean. Dean died on Monday at age 82 after the couple had been together for 60 years. Her romantic new song is called “If You Hadn’t Been There.” The single artwork features a picture of the couple when they were young with Parton’s arms around Dean; it’s annotated with the couple’s signatures reading Dolly + Carl = a heart.
“I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together,” Parton wrote on social media to accompany the song announcement. “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.”
“If You Hadn’t Been There” is a sweet and straightforward country song that celebrates the uplifting nature of partnership. In it, she credits Dean and his love for helping her reach the heights of success. “You always see the best in me/Your loving arms have cradled me/You held me close, and I believe/I wouldn’t be here/If you hadn’t been there,” she sings on the track. “Holding my hand/Showing you care/You made me drеam/More than I dared/And I wouldn’t be hеre/If you hadn’t been there.”
On Thursday, Parton issued a statement of gratitude following the announcement of Dean’s death. “This is a love note to family, friends and fans. Thank you for all the messages, cards and flowers that you’ve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl. I can’t reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me,” she wrote. In another musical tribute, she concluded the message: “He is in God’s arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you.”
