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Introduction

Dolly Parton has opened up about the deep emotional impact of a recent  Grand Ole Opry tribute honoring her late husband, Carl Dean. In an Instagram Stories message shared on March 21, just days after  the Opry 100: A Live Celebration aired, Parton revealed, “I have not stopped crying” since witnessing the star-studded performance of her iconic song “I Will Always Love You,” dedicated to Dean. The heartfelt moment, featuring around 50 Grand Ole Opry members, left her overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion, describing it as “beyond words.” Dean, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 82, had shared more than six decades of life with Parton. Though she was unable to attend the tribute in person, Parton expressed her thanks through a pre-recorded video, saying her heart and spirit were with everyone. Speaking recently at Dollywood’s 40th season opening, she shared that while she’s “doing better than I thought I would,” the loss has left “a hole in my heart.” Still, she finds comfort knowing Dean is at peace and vows to fill that emptiness with love and good memories.
The country music icon, 79, revealed in an emotional Instagram Stories post on March 21 that she has “not stopped crying” since witnessing a star-studded rendition of her iconic ballad “I Will Always Love You,” performed in honor of Dean during the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th Anniversary celebration. The performance featured around 50 members of the Opry, all lending their voices to the beloved song in a moment that transcended music and became a powerful memorial.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton is no stranger to emotional storytelling, but the recent tribute to her late husband, Carl Dean, during the Opry 100: A Live Celebration moved her in a way few things ever have.

“All those beautiful people with all their beautiful voices singing my song as a tribute to my husband Carl… the emotion was beyond words,” Parton wrote. “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. I also will always love you.”

Parton announced Dean’s passing earlier this month, sharing that he died at the age of 82. The two had been married for over 60 years, though their relationship was famously private. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” she shared in her March 3 statement. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared.”

The tribute performance, which aired live on March 19, was a poignant reminder of the deep bond the couple shared and the impact of Parton’s music—not just on fans, but on her own healing. Though she was not physically present at the event, Parton’s pre-recorded message reminded audiences of her enduring connection to the Opry and her late husband: “My heart is with you and my spirit is with you.”

Speaking to Knox News Sentinel during the opening of Dollywood’s 40th season, Parton shared that she’s been coping “better than I thought I would,” emphasizing that Dean had “suffered a great deal” in his final days. “It’s a hole in my heart, you know,” she said candidly. “But we’ll fill that up with good stuff and he’ll still always be with me.”

For fans, the moment was a reminder of why Dolly Parton remains a towering figure in American culture—not just for her unmatched musical legacy, but for her unshakable honesty, vulnerability, and grace. And as 50 voices sang one unforgettable song, the world was reminded that love, even in grief, finds its way into harmony.