Dolly Parton’s fans were left in tears after the country icon was honored with a star-studded tribute at the Opry 100 celebration in Nashville on Wednesday.

The tribute to the Jolene singer, 79, came two weeks after the death of her beloved husband, Carl Thomas Dean, at the age of 82.

Stars including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lady A and around 50 members of the Opry’s choir came together to perform Parton’s hit, I Will Always Love You.

‘Everybody here at the Opry and around the world wants to send you our thoughts and prayers,’ McEntire, 69, said to Dolly from the stage. 

‘And you gotta know, we will always love you,’ she told the legendary star, who was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1969.

Meanwhile singer Carly Pearce performed Dolly’s other smash hit ‘Jolene.’ 

Dolly Parton’s fans were left in tears after the country icon was honored with a star-studded tribute at the Opry 100 celebration in Nashville on Wednesday

The tribute to the Jolene singer, 79, came two weeks after the death of her beloved husband, Carl Thomas Dean, at the age of 82; Dolly pictured at the Grand Ole Opry in 2019

‘Dolly Parton is my hero, and it means so much to me that she invited me to join the Opry,’ she told the crowd. 

‘Dolly, I just want you to know that my heart goes out to you and your family, and it is my great honor to sing my favorite Dolly song tonight.’

Read More Country music fans left in floods of tears over Carrie Underwood’s touching gesture at Opry 100

Parton was not present, but appeared in a taped message.

‘Well hello, I am Dolly Parton and I am a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry,’ she said.

‘And I am so sorry that I can’t be there with everybody in person, but of course you know my heart is with you and my spirit is with you.’

Fans were touched by the tribute, taking to X to share their emotional reactions.  

‘Tears flowing during this Dolly tribute,’ one fan wrote. 

‘Ok im gonna cry again perfect ending and tribute to Dolly. We love you,’ another one wrote. 

‘This star studded performance of “I Will Always Love You” oh, Dolly you are SO loved. This is stunning.’

Stars including Reba McEntire (pictured) Carrie Underwood, Lady A and around 50 members of the Opry’s choir came together to perform Parton’s hit, I Will Always Love You

‘Everybody here at the Opry and around the world wants to send you our thoughts and prayers,’ McEntire, 69, said to Dolly from the stage. ‘And you gotta know, we will always love you,’ she added

Parton was not present, but appeared in a taped message; Carrie pictured performing 

Meanwhile singer Carly Pearce performed Dolly’s other smash hit ‘Jolene’

‘Dolly Parton is my hero, and it means so much to me that she invited me to join the Opry,’ she told the crowd. ‘Dolly, I just want you to know that my heart goes out to you and your family, and it is my great honor to sing my favorite Dolly song tonight’

Fans were touched by the tribute, taking to X to share their emotional reactions. ‘Tears flowing during this Dolly tribute,’ one fan wrote

‘WOW! Epic wrap up to an incredible night!!! That right there is the We Are the World of Country Music. Definitely missing our Dolly – thinking of her with love. Happy 100th to the @opry! We will always love YOU!!’

‘I Will Always Love You! Dolly we love you! ❤️ Great finale to an epic night of Country Music! Happy Birthday #Opry100! Amazing show tonight and one I would watch again!’

Closing out the #Opry100 show is a tearful but respectful tribute @DollyParton. congrats on 50 years of being a member. We are keeping you in our prayers. Love you Dolly.’ 

‘A message from @DollyParton Dolly…we will always love you. Sending you continued condolences! #Opry100.’

On Monday Dolly gave fans an update on how she’s coping following the death of her husband from undisclosed causes on March 3, after 58 years of marriage.

‘I’m doing better than I thought I would. I’ve been with him 60 years,’ the national treasure told Knox News on Monday.

Dolly also shared insight into her reclusive husband’s private life, revealing that he struggled in the lead up to his pᴀssing.

‘He suffered a great deal,’ Parton admitted.

The legendary star was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1969

‘I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him,’ she continued. ‘It’s a hole in my heart, you know, but we’ll fill that up with good stuff and he’ll still always be with me.’

Last Friday, the legendary country crooner made her first public appearance since the retired asphalt road-paver’s pᴀssing during the 40th season celebration of Dollywood, the theme park in Pigeon Forge, TN she bought with Herschend Family Entertainment back in 1986.

‘I need to laugh. I need some fun, so I’m probably gonna be stupid,’ Dolly explained. ‘I’ve been crying enough the last week or two.’

Parton revealed Carl used to frequently visit Dollywood without her, indulging in funnel cake and avoiding the roller coasters, while enjoying the sights and attractions.

‘He stood in line and got his ticket. He didn’t want somebody giving him a ticket because he was Dolly’s husband,’ she recalled.

‘He would say, “You need more bathrooms.” Or he would say, “You need to tell them this or that. It’s crowded over in that area. You might want to tell them they ought to do this or that.”‘

Parton continued: ‘He wasn’t coming to criticize, but he would notice things and he would say, you might want to bring this to their attention.’

The 11-time Grammy winner teased she might want to ‘do like Carl’ and get incognito for her own secret visit to Dollywood: ‘I would just walk around, look at everything.’

On Monday, Dolly gave fans an update on how she’s coping following the death of her husband from undisclosed causes on March 3, after 58 years of marriage

‘I’m doing better than I thought I would. I’ve been with him 60 years,’ the national treasure told Knox News, adding, ‘I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him’

Dolly was only 18 when she famously met Dean in 1964 at a laundromat the day after moving to Nashville from Sevierville to start her career.

The reclusive couple renewed their wedding vows in 2016 for their 50th wedding anniversary.

Three days after his death, Dolly released a touching song dedicated to Dean called If You Hadn’t Been There.

Dolly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.