Dolly Parton made her first public appearance since she announced her husband of nearly six decades, Carl Dean, died in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 82.
Parton, 79, appeared at an event on Friday (March 14) to mark Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season. The event aimed to offer season pass holders the first look at some of the additions to the amusement park after undergoing a few major changes, including a new parking lot and a new restaurant, according to a report from WSPA-TV.
But “before I start all of that,” she said as she addressed the audience, “I just want to take a minute to thank all of you for all the flowers and cards, and the well wishes for the loss of Carl. You know how I loved him. And he would want me to be working today. I expect to be working. So anyway, 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. And can you believe that it’s been 40 years? Wow. I mean, this is truly an anniversary year.”
The beloved country star, who opened Dollywood in East Tennessee in the mid-1980s, confirmed her husband died on Monday, March 3. Parton cherished the “many wonderful years together,” as she thanked others for their prayers and sympathy and asked for privacy for the family as they grieve Dean’s loss.
Parton met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat on her first day living in Nashville, and they remained together ever since. They got married in Georgia wedding on May 30, 1966. Parton received an outpouring of condolences after confirming Dean’s passing, and said in a statement days later: “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. 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.”
Parton shared when she debuted a new ballad, “If You Hadn’t Been There,” that she “fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. 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, and I dedicate this song to him.” Listen to it here: