Single cover. Butterfly (digital single) (2025)
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"If You Hadn't Been There" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on March 7, 2025, by Butterfly Records. The song was written by Dolly and produced by Kent Wells and Gregg Perry. Dedicated to her husband, Carl Dean, it was released four days after his death at the age of 82. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart and number three on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart.
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Track listing
- If You Hadn't Been There (Dolly Parton) 3:28
Background
Photo credit: Dolly Parton on Instagram
Carl Thomas Dean, Dolly's husband of 58 years, passed away on Monday, February 3, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. Carl was born on July 20, 1942, in Nashville. He and Dolly met in 1964 outside a laundromat on the day she moved from the Smokies to Nashville. They were married on May 30, 1966, in Ringgold, Georgia, in a private ceremony attended only by Dolly's mother, the preacher, and the preacher's wife. Carl led a private life away from the spotlight, running a successful asphalt paving business in Nashville. The couple renewed their vows in a private ceremony in 2016 for their 50th wedding anniversary.
Dolly's social media accounts announced Carl's death on the evening of March 3 with the following statement: "Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie. '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.' The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time."
Three days later on March 6, Dolly released another statement, which said, "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 l am okay with that. I will always love you. – Dolly"
Upon the single's release she 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 song was produced by Kent Wells and Gregg Perry. Perry and Dolly first worked together on her 1977 album, New Harvest...First Gathering. This track marks their first collaboration since 1983's Burlap & Satin. The song will be featured in the upcoming musical about Dolly's life. She first mentioned the song during the January 28, 2025 press conference at Belmont University in Nashville announcing the initial preview performances for Dolly: An Original Musical. She cited the song as her personal favorite in the musical, describing it as the show's "theme song." She said, "It talks about all the people that have been in my life, but it's also a reference to God as well."
Dolly's social media accounts announced Carl's death on the evening of March 3 with the following statement: "Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie. '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.' The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time."
Three days later on March 6, Dolly released another statement, which said, "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 l am okay with that. I will always love you. – Dolly"
Upon the single's release she 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 song was produced by Kent Wells and Gregg Perry. Perry and Dolly first worked together on her 1977 album, New Harvest...First Gathering. This track marks their first collaboration since 1983's Burlap & Satin. The song will be featured in the upcoming musical about Dolly's life. She first mentioned the song during the January 28, 2025 press conference at Belmont University in Nashville announcing the initial preview performances for Dolly: An Original Musical. She cited the song as her personal favorite in the musical, describing it as the show's "theme song." She said, "It talks about all the people that have been in my life, but it's also a reference to God as well."
Audio
Commercial performance
"If You Hadn't Been There" sold 5,400 digital copies in its first week, debuting and peaking at number one on the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales chart and number three on the all-genre Billboard Digital Song Sales chart. In the UK the single debuted and peaked at number 21 on both the Official Singles Sales Chart and the Official Singles Downloads Chart.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from YouTube.
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