Dolly Parton has expressed how deeply moved she was by the tribute to her late husband, Carl Dean, during the Opry 100 Special earlier this week. The tribute featured performances of her iconic song “I Will Always Love You” by Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lady A, and the Opry’s choir. The rendition was not only a tribute to Parton but also to her beloved husband, who passed away on March 3 at the age of 82.
In an Instagram story shared on March 21, the 79-year-old singer revealed how emotional and overwhelmed she felt by the performance, expressing how the tribute touched her deeply:
“I have not stopped crying over the beautiful tribute of ‘I Will Always Love You’ on the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry show,” Parton wrote. “All those beautiful people with all their beautiful voices singing my song as a tribute to my husband Carl… the emotion was beyond words. I have cried enough to wash a great deal of the pain away, so thanks to all of you beautiful people that helped make that possible.”
She concluded the post with a heartfelt message: “I also will always love you.” The tribute to Carl Dean, who spent nearly 60 years with Parton, has deeply resonated with fans, friends, and the music community.
Despite the sorrow, Parton has shared that she’s finding peace with his passing. During a recent interview with Knox News, she said: “I’m doing better than I thought I would. I’ve been with him 60 years. So I’m going to have to relearn some of the things that we’ve done. But I’ll keep him always close.” She added, “I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him.”
Parton has always spoken fondly of her private and humorous relationship with Dean, calling him her “perfect partner.” Despite their low-key life together, Parton has said they’ve had an amazing marriage based on mutual respect, love, and humor.
