Like Dolly Parton, the heart of the country music community will forever cherish Carl Dean. It was with this sentiment that Reba McEntire, the esteemed host of the 2025 ACM Awards, paid a poignant tribute to him and other late luminaries during the ceremony held on May 8. Stepping onto the stage at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the veteran singer captivated the audience with an unaccompanied performance of "Me and Bobby McGee," a timeless tune by Kris Kristofferson, who passed away in September at the age of 88.
"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose / Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free," Reba sang with soulful emotion. "Feelin' good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues / And buddy, that was good enough for me / Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee," her voice resonating with the crowd.
After coaxing the audience into a heartfelt chorus, the 70-year-old musician turned to the fans, her eyes gleaming with reverence. "Those are the words of the great Kris Kristofferson, whom the Academy of Country Music honored with the Poet's Award. What a poet indeed," she declared.
"Tonight, we remember Kris and all those in our vast country music family who have left us in the past year," Reba continued, her voice tinged with melancholy. "Among them are my dear friend Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys, the magnificent singer-songwriter Melba Montgomery, the esteemed musical publisher Ben Vaughn, and Dolly Parton's beloved husband and partner of 60 years, Carl Dean."
She added, her voice soft yet firm, "They have all gifted us with music that echoes in our lives and forever resides in our hearts."
The award show marked a poignant milestone, occurring two months after Carl's passing on May 3 at the age of 82.
"Carl and I shared countless wonderful years together," Dolly had shared in a heartfelt statement on X (formerly Twitter) at the time. "Words can never fully encapsulate the love we shared for over six decades."
Since Carl's demise, life has undeniably been a "big adjustment" for the iconic 9 to 5 star, who met her late husband when she was just 18.
"I get emotional when people mention it," Dolly confessed in a May interview with Today. "I'll be fine, and I'm deeply immersed in my work, which has been a saving grace. But of course, I'll always miss him, and I'll forever cherish him."
