Additional Coverage:
- Dolly Parton Handles On-Stage Mishap With Ease (parade.com)
Country music icon Dolly Parton, still grieving the recent loss of her husband, Carl Dean, put on a brave face for fans at Dollywood’s 40th-anniversary celebration. Dean, Parton’s husband of 59 years, recently passed away.
Despite her personal grief, Parton appeared at the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee park on Friday, March 14th, to thank attendees for their outpouring of support. “He would want me to be working today,” Parton shared with the crowd of passholders and press, adding a heartfelt, “I will always love him and I will miss him.”
Ever the professional, Parton launched into a performance, but experienced a brief technical difficulty during her song “Celebrate the Dreamer In You.” After requesting a monitor adjustment mid-song, she recovered seamlessly, finishing to enthusiastic applause.
Parton’s tribute to her late husband extends beyond her Dollywood appearance. She recently released a touching song dedicated to Dean titled, “If You Hadn’t Been There,” a musical love letter expressing her gratitude for his lifelong support.
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- Dolly Parton Handles On-Stage Mishap With Ease (parade.com)