Dolly Parton Reflects on “Hard” Time Two Months After Husband Carl Dean’s Death (Exclusive)
Like Dolly Parton, the country music community will always love Carl Dean.
That’s why 2025 ACM Awards host Reba McEntire shared a special tribute to him and other late stars at the May 8 ceremony.
Taking the stage inside the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the singer serenaded the crowd with an a cappella rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee” by Kris Kristofferson, who died in September at age 88.
“Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose / Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free,” Reba sang. “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.”
After getting the audience to sing along to the chorus, the 70-year-old told fans, “Those are the words of the great Kris Kristofferson. The Academy of Country Music honored him with the Poet’s Award. What a poet he was.”
