Dolly Parton Makes First Appearance After Husband’s Passing: “He Would Want Me to Keep Working”

Dolly Parton Remembers Karl Dean

Dolly Parton made her first public appearance following the passing of her husband, Karl Tomas Dean. Read more about the event below.

Tributes to a Long-Lasting Love

Earlier this month (March 4), Parton shared the heartbreaking news that her husband, Karl Dean, passed away at the age of 82. The couple was married for nearly 60 years, though the cause of death has not been disclosed.

On March 14, Parton made her first appearance since Dean’s death to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her theme park, Dollywood, located in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

During her speech, Parton reminisced about both the past and future of Dollywood, taking a moment to honor her late husband. Gratefully, she acknowledged her fans and friends for their support, saying, “Thank you for all the flowers and postcards, as well as your wishes.”

Remembering Karl Dean, she referenced her song “I Will Always Love You,” stating, “You know, I loved him. Of course, I will always love him… and I will always love you.” She expressed optimism about her future work, saying, “He would want me to work today. I expect to work.”

Later on, she performed an acoustic rendition titled “Celebrate the Dreamer in Yourself,” which you can watch below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9oo1jecouu

The complete video of Parton’s appearance has been captured and shared by WVLT. Check it out here.

In her statement announcing Dean’s death earlier this month, Parton reflected, “Karl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words cannot express the love we shared for more than 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

Shortly after, she released a heartfelt single titled “If You Weren’t There” in memory of her late husband, discussing his significant role in her journey and development as an artist.

Parton shared the artwork for the single on her Instagram account. The image shows her embracing her husband during their youth, with the caption reading, “I fell in love with Karl Dean when I was 18 years old.”

“We spent 60 precious and significant 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,” she shared.

Parton and Dean began their romance in 1964 and tied the knot two years later. They celebrated over 60 years of love, with 59 of those years spent married. Despite their long relationship, Dean often remained out of the public eye, rarely photographed alongside his wife.