Dolly Parton Makes Her First Public Appearance Amid Demise of Her Husband Carl Dean: ‘You Know How I Loved Him...’

The country music legend gave an emotional speech at Dollywood, thanking fans for their support and honoring her late husband.

Suhasini Oswal
Written by Suhasini Oswal , Entertainment Journalist
Updated on Mar 15, 2025 | 09:15 AM GMT | 7.7K
CC: Getty Images
CC: Getty Images

Dolly Parton made her first public appearance since the passing of her beloved husband, Carl Dean, earlier this month. The 79-year-old country music icon surprised fans on Friday at the 40th opening ceremony of her Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, theme park, Dollywood, where she expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of love and support.

During her heartfelt speech, Parton thanked fans for the flowers, cards, and kind messages she had received over the past two weeks. She acknowledged the deep love she shared with Dean and explained why she chose to attend the event.

“You know how I loved him, and he would want me to be working today. I expect to be working,” she told the crowd. She added that she would always love and miss him but wanted her fans to know that she would always love them as well.

Her words were met with cheers from the audience, with fans shouting, “We love you, Dolly!” in support. The Jolene singer ended her speech by performing Celebrate The Dreamer In You before participating in Dollywood’s opening day parade, where she waved to fans from a carriage.

She later told a local news outlet that she could not help but feel loved with such a supportive crowd.

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Parton’s appearance at Dollywood came just 11 days after Dean’s passing at the age of 82. The couple, who were married for 60 years, kept their relationship largely private. Last week, Parton released a song in tribute to her late husband, If You Hadn’t Been There, sharing on Instagram that, like all great love stories, theirs would never end but would live on in memory and song. She dedicated the song to him, calling him the star of her life story.

About The Author
Suhasini Oswal
Suhasini Oswal
Entertainment Journalist

Suhasini Oswal is an entertainment journalist with a deep love for movies and storytelling. With two...

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