“He’s not in the business, so we have different interests, but we enjoy the things we love to do together,” Parton explained in a past interview.
This yin-yang dynamic worked for them. Dean’s steadfast support allowed Dolly to shine while anchoring her with emotional security and unconditional love.
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“If You Hadn’t Been There”: A Song of Grief and Gratitude
Released just months after Dean’s passing, “If You Hadn’t Been There” is Dolly’s way of processing grief and preserving memory. The ballad features hauntingly simple instrumentation and lyrics like:
“You made me dream more than I dared / And I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been there.”
On Instagram, Parton posted a photo from their early years together, writing:
“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.”
🎧 Watch the music video on YouTube
Grief on Hold — For Now
Although the song poured out of her, Dolly admitted during an interview on Khloé Kardashian’s podcast, “Khloé in Wonder Land,” that grief is still too fresh to face head-on.
