Dolly Parton wasn't in attendance at the 60th Annual ACM Awards, but it was clear that she was on the hearts and minds of those in crowd and watching from home. The awards show paid special tribute to Dolly by honoring her late husband Carl Dean in the "In Memoriam" segment of the show.
Host Reba McEntire took the stage to honor members of the community who have passed away this year. But, instead of only including musicians and performers, she added loved ones in the "extended country music family."
Reba introduced the segment by performing an a cappella version of "Me and Bobby McGee," which was written by "the great Kris Kristofferson." Kris, who passed away at age 88 in September, received the Poet's Award from the Academy of Country Music in 2013. And, Reba commented, "what a poet he was."
She continued to say, "Tonight, we remember Kris and all those in our extended country music family who've passed this past year. And that list includes my buddy Joe Bonsall from the Oak Ridge Boys, the wonderful singer-songwriter Melba Montgomery, the highly respected music publisher Ben Vaughn, and Dolly Parton's husband and love of 60 years, Carl Dean."
Reba continued saying, "They all brought music to our lives, and live on forever in our hearts."
Dolly's relationship with Carl Dean was famously private. While he supported Dolly throughout her career, he stayed out of the public eye and only accompanied her to one awards show during their decades of marriage. Dolly said she begged him to go with her in 1967 to the BMI Awards. She rented him a tux and after the show he said, "'Look, I want you to do anything you want to do, but never ask me to go to another one of things again.' And he never did."
We know Dolly was feeling the love from her ACM family from afar!
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
