A once in a lifetime love story, indeed.
Dolly Parton’s husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, sadly passed away on Monday in Nashville at the age of 82, and the news was released via Dolly’s social media with the following statement:
In a statement she put out via her team on Instagram yesterday, Dolly said she wanted to send a “love note” to all of her family, friends and fans who have sent messages, cards and flowers in honor of her late husband. She said it has “meant the world to her” to feel the overwhelming support, and she is at peace knowing that Carl is in “God’s arms now,” saying she is “okay” and that has provided immense comfort:
“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. He is in God’s arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you.”
Of course, she’s going through an extremely hard time right now, and I can’t imagine how hard it is to lose the love of your life, and someone who has been your rock for so many decades:
While Dolly is in the midst of the grieving process, she’s partially doing it the only way she knows how… through music. Today, she put out a beautiful, heartfelt song “If You Hadn’t Been There,” which she says is dedicated to her late husband. Dolly says she met Carl when she was just 18 and he was 23, and like all great love stories, “they never end”:
“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.”
Just beautiful… this one might make you cry, fair warning.
The famous story goes that Dolly and Carl met outside of the Wishy Washy laundromat in Nashville in 1964, the same day that Dolly moved to Music City. They dated for two years, and decided they wanted to get married. And actually, at the time of their wedding, Dolly’s newfound record label didn’t want her to get married at all. They thought it might tarnish her image, and as we all know, Dolly did what she wanted anyways… so she and Carl Dean secretly ran off to Ringgold, Georgia, along with Parton’s mom Avie Lee as a witness, and headed for the local courthouse.
The rest, as they say, is history, and he’s been by her side for decades, and while we never saw him in-person, he was a guiding light and rock in the life of an incredible woman who accomplished everything and more.
The song itself is simple and beautiful, where Dolly sings about how thankful she is to have had him for all the wonderful years they shared together, noting how much love they shared and how it made her incredible life possible:
“If you hadn’t been there
Where would I be?
Without your trust
Love and belief
The up’s and down’s
We’ve always shared
And I wouldn’t be here
If you hadn’t been there
If you hadn’t been there
Well, who would I be?
You always see the best in me
You’re loving arms have cradled me
You held me close, and I believe”
Yeah, it’s a tearjerker, and I was surprised to see how fast she put something out, but Dolly has always said writing songs is how she gets through things (though it’s unclear when this was written and recorded), and this one clearly meant the world to her.
Every word feels so true and genuine to what (pretty little) we know about their marriage, and Carl was obviously her rock and guiding light for many years, and they shared a beautiful marriage and love story most could only ever dream about, and “If You Hadn’t Been There” is the perfect tribute to that transcendent love.
RIP Carl Dean
Give it a listen here:
“If You Hadn’t Been There”
