Dolly Parton made her first public appearance since the death of her husband, Carl Dean, and took the opportunity to reflect on what he meant to her. The singer took the stage at the 40th anniversary celebration of her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee to speak and perform.
After thanking fans for their condolences, Parton noted, “I just want to say thank you and I love you for all the flowers, cards and well-wishes… He would want me to be working today. I expect to be working.” She added, referring to her 1974 classic, “Of course I will always love him, and I’ll miss him, but I wanted you to know that I will always love you.”
Parton also paid homage to Dollywood’s visitors over the past four decades during the event. “Thank you to our guests and the community for the support they’ve given to my Dollywood for 40 years,” she said. “It’s hard to believe it has been that long, but it never would have lasted if it hadn’t been for you—our guests.”
The singer performed an acoustic version of “Celebrate the Dreamer in You,” telling the crowd that it was “actually the song we did on the 20th anniversary.”
Dean died at 82 earlier this month. The couple were married for nearly 60 years. Parton issued a statement a few days after his death thanking fans for their support.
“This is a love note to family, friends, and fans. Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you’ve sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl,” Parton wrote on social media. “I can’t reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in God’s arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you.”
The musician subsequently shared a new song, “If You Hadn’t Been There,” in tribute to Dean. “Carl and I fell in love when I was 18 and he was 23, and like all great love stories, they never end,” she wrote on Instagram. “They live in memory and in song, and I dedicate this to him.”
