Dolly Parton has made her first public appearance since her husband, Carl Dean, died at the age of 82. The country icon turned up in person at the 2025 opening of Dollywood on Friday (March 14), putting aside her personal troubles to smile and wave at fans who had traveled from all over the country to be there.

Dolly Parton has made a surprise appearance at her Dollywood theme park to mark the beginning of celebrations for the park's 40th anniversary - and paying tribute to her late husband

Dolly Parton said she’s “doing better than I thought I would,” weeks after losing her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean. But “that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him.” Parton, 79, spoke about her late husband in an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel when she appeared at a recent event for season pass holders at Dollywood,