Dolly Parton has given a heartbreaking update on her career after the de.ath of her husband of 59 years, Carl Dean
The music icon, 79, announced 82-year-old Dean’s passing in March, and has since made the decision to put her recording career on hold.
She told Khloe Kardashian on podcast Khloe in Wonder Land: ‘I can’t do it right now ‘cause I got so many other things that I can’t afford the luxury of, you know, of getting emotional right now.’
Admitting she is ‘stalled’ she added: ‘I’ll write something else, though, if it comes. I’m just putting that all on hold.’
In the wake of Dean’s de.ath Parton released a soaring ballad If You Hadn’t Been There.
Dolly announced the release of her single on Instagram and revealed the artwork, an old photo showing her standing up behind Carl and wrapping her arms around her neck while beaming for the camera.
‘Carl and I fell in love when I was 18 and he was 23, and like all great love stories, they never end,’ she sweetly captioned the post. ‘They live in memory and in song, and I dedicate this to him.’
The new single opened with delicate piano, acoustic guitar and pedal steel guitar before Dolly’s opening line, which restated the title.
‘If you hadn’t been there / Where would I be?’ she sings.
She goes on to praise Dean’s ‘trust, love and belief,’ even though they’ve gone through their share of ‘ups and downs.’
In the second verse, Dolly sings a variation on the title: ‘If you hadn’t been you / Well, who would I be?’
After leaving her voice exposed with just piano and guitars, the drums jump in to accompany her on the second verse, beefing up the instrumentation.
She goes on to praise her love for ‘always see[ing] the best in me.’
She recalls how ‘Your loving arms have cradled me’ and ‘You held me close’ as the music begins to swell behind her.
A chorus falls in behind Dolly as she sings the start of the chorus: ‘I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been there.’
Parton took to social media to thank loved ones and fans for their support as she adjusts to life without her husband.
‘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,’ she wrote. ‘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,’ she added.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Wishing you well
It is well