Dolly Parton releases new song dedicated to husband Carl Dean just days after his death

Dolly Parton has released a new heartbreaking song dedicated to her late husband just days after he sadly passed away.

The new track, named If You Hadn't Been There, is a moving tribute to Carl Dean, her husband of nearly 60 years, who died in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 82, on March 3.

The song opens with delicate piano, acoustic guitar and pedal steel guitar before Dolly starts singing, "If you hadn't been there / Where would I be?"

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In the new single, Dolly also praises Carl's "trust, love and belief," while sharing that he would "always see the best in me."

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Dolly shared the artwork for the song - a photo of her wrapping her arms around Carl while beaming at the camera when they were younger - saying they fell in love when he was 23 and she was just 18.

She wrote, "Carl and I fell in love when I was 18 and he was 23, and like all great love stories, they never end. They live in memory and in song, and I dedicate this to him. 'If You Hadn’t Been There.'"

Fans quickly shared their support for the 79-year-old singer, while praising the beauty of her new song.

One wrote, "I know whenever forever comes he will be right there with you. I personally appreciate how selfless Carl was because he lent us you and you have impacted so many. I love you, Dolly."

Another added, "The love you had with Carl is a life goal for so many of us, I am so happy you got to experience that, Dolly!"

A third said, "It's such a great song!" One more fan commented, "So beautiful. You respected his wish for privacy and guarded the love you both shared.

"I have always been so fascinated and impressed your marriage. You have modeled what love really is."

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Dolly and Carl met in a Nashville laundromat in 1964, with the singer describing their connection as "love at first sight," and they married two years later.

Sharing news of her husband's passing on Instagram, Dolly wrote earlier this week, "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."

She later shared a follow-up post which she described as "a love note" to her family, friends and fans for their support, saying, "Thank you all for 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."