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Dolly Parton made a heartfelt return to the public eye after the passing of her beloved husband, Carl Dean, earlier this month. The 79-year-old country legend surprised fans by attending the 40th opening ceremony of her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on Friday. Parton took a moment during her speech to express her gratitude for the outpouring of love and support she has received since Dean’s passing.
With a mixture of warmth and emotion, she thanked the crowd for the flowers, cards, and kind messages that had helped her during this difficult time. Reflecting on her deep love for Dean, she shared, “You know how I loved him, and he would want me to be working today. I expect to be working.” She added, “I just wanted you to know that, of course, I will always love him, and I’ll miss him, but I wanted you to know that I will always love you,” to a supportive and cheering audience.
Fans responded with shouts of “We love you, Dolly!” as she concluded her speech. Parton then performed “Celebrate The Dreamer In You” before joining in Dollywood’s opening day parade, where she waved to her fans from a carriage, clearly overwhelmed by the love surrounding her. Reflecting on the moment, she told a local news outlet, “How would I not feel loved with that crowd?”
This appearance marked Parton’s first public outing just 11 days after the passing of Dean, who died at the age of 82. The couple had been married for 60 years but kept their relationship largely private. Last week, Parton honored her late husband with the release of a song titled If You Hadn’t Been There, dedicating it to him and sharing on Instagram, “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.”