Continuing on like the queen that she is.
Yesterday, less than two weeks after her husband of almost 60 years Carl Dean passed away in Nashville at the age of 82, Dolly Parton was seen visiting her theme park in Sevierville, Tennessee, at Dollywood, marking her first public appearance since she lost the love of her life.
Fans on at the park caught a glimpse of Dolly coming into the park in a van, where she got out and walked into the back of a building with some of her team, and she looked to be in good spirits, stopping to wave and smile at fans who lovingly shouted “We love you, Dolly!”
Dolly’s team had previously confirmed that a private ceremony would be held for Carl Dean for close friends and family, though no further details about it were understandably shared publicly.
In a way, I’m not surprised to see Dolly out and about, already back to business and holding everything together because that’s just who she is, but I’m sure she’s heartbroken and really hurting behind closed doors. The fact that she still took the time to stop and wave to fans, even flashing her million dollar smile in a warm moment between them, says all you need to know about who Dolly is:
@loveisdolly19The Queen has arrived! In spite of everything, she always shows up! So we show up for her! she is the Epitome of Strength. You are so loved @Dolly Parton Thank you for giving so much of yourself to us. Hoping you feel the love we have for you! @Dollywood Parks & Resorts♬ If You Hadn’t Been There – Dolly Parton
She was at the park to perform “Celebrate the Dreamer In You” at the 40th grand opening of Dollywood, and she told fans in the crowd that Carl would be “expecting her” to work today, so that’s what she did. She added that, of course, she will “always love him and miss him”:
“He would expect me to be workin’ today, so I expect to be workin’… Of course, I will always love him, and I’ll miss him.”
The famous story goes that Dolly and Carl met outside of the Wishy Washy laundromat in Nashville in 1964, the same day that Dolly moved to Music City. They dated for two years, and decided they wanted to get married. And actually, at the time of their wedding, Dolly’s newfound record label didn’t want her to get married at all. They thought it might tarnish her image, and as we all know, Dolly did what she wanted anyways… so she and Carl Dean secretly ran off to Ringgold, Georgia, along with Parton’s mom Avie Lee as a witness, and headed for the local courthouse.
The rest, as they say, is history, and he’s been by her side for decades, and while we never saw him in-person, he was a guiding light and rock in the life of an incredible woman who accomplished everything and more.
Dolly also put out a touching new song last week in his honor called “If You Hadn’t Been There,” which is a beautiful tribute to her late husband you can listen to here:
