Dolly Parton continues to mourn the loss of her husband of 58 years, Carl Thomas Dean.
On Friday evening the 79-year-old country music icon took to Instagram to share her reaction to the tribute paid to her late spouse at this week’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration show.
During Wednesday night’s show, stars including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lady A and about 50 members of the Opry’s choir performed Parton’s 1974 song 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.’
Via Instagram Stories, Dolly wrote to her 7.5 million followers, ‘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.’
She added, ‘All those beautiful people with all their beautiful voices singing my song as a tribute to my husband Carl… the emotion was beyond words.’
Dolly Parton took to Instagram to share her reaction to the tribute paid to her late spouse Carl Dean at this week’s Opry 100: A Live Celebration show; pictured in January
Via Instagram Stories, Dolly wrote to her 7.5 million followers, ‘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’
The legendary music artist continued, ‘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 finished the note, ‘I also will always love you,’ and signed off, ‘-Dolly.’
Read More Dolly Parton makes surprise first appearance less than 2 weeks after death of husband Carl Dean 
Earlier in the week Parton gave fans an update on how she’s coping, telling Knox News: ‘I’m doing better than I thought I would. I’ve been with him 60 years.’
She also shared insight into the end of her famously reclusive husband’s life, revealing that he struggled leading up to his death.
‘He suffered a great deal,’ Dolly said. ‘I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him.’
She went on to say, ‘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.’
Parton was just 18-years-old when she first crossed paths with Carl in 1964 at Nashville’s Wishy Washy Laundromat.
Three days after his March 3 death, the Grammy-winning musician released a song dedicated to her husband, If You Hadn’t Been There.
Parton was just 18-years-old when she first crossed paths with Carl in 1964 at Nashville’s Wishy Washy Laundromat
Three days after his March 3 death, the Grammy-winning musician released a song dedicated to her husband, If You Hadn’t Been There
Despite her fresh grief, Parton appeared at Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs In Symphony World Premiere at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Thursday
In a second tribute, Carly Pearce performed a cover of Dolly’s classic 1973 tune Jolene.
Dolly’s Broadway-bound musical about her life, Dolly: An Original Musical, begins previews on July 18 for a limited August 8-17 run at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.
Parton is not only producing the show — which is being helmed by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher — she also co-wrote the corresponding book with two-time Emmy-winning producer Maria S. Schlatter, and penned ‘many original songs’ and ‘included all your favorites’ too.
Dolly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Grand Ole Opry in 1969.
