Dolly Parton painted on a big smile to the world premiere of Threads: My Songs In Symphony in Nashville, TN on Thursday despite the death of her beloved husband Carl Thomas Dean, at age 82, from undisclosed causes on March 3 after 58 years of marriage.
The grieving 79-year-old – who’s spent the past two weeks crying – seemed delighted to glam up in a pair of cha-cha heels and a black rhinestone-embellished blazer dress designed by her lifelong creative director Steve Summers.
Dolly donned a platinum-blonde fringed hairpiece crafted by her trusty wig master Cheryl Riddle as well as plenty of jewelry to coordinate with her ornate costume.
In 1971, Parton released a song called Coat of Many Colors, which clearly inspired her multi-hued eye shadow and she also rocked a trendy overlined neutral pout for the festivities.
The national treasure then hit the Schermerhorn Symphony Center stage to speak to the audience before the Nashville Symphony Orchestra performed with her seven hand-picked singers in the innovative multimedia experience featuring herself on screen.
‘They’re all special to me and just hearing them all done, and just hearing what the symphony and all the wonderful singers are going to do to them – that’s really what songwriters live for is to hear other people do your songs and hope that other people enjoy them,’ Dolly told the press.
Dolly Parton painted on a big smile to the world premiere of Threads: My Songs In Symphony in Nashville, TN on Thursday despite the death of her beloved husband Carl Thomas Dean, at age 82, from undisclosed causes on March 3 after 58 years of marriage
Threads: My Songs In Symphony will next take place at the Foellinger Theatre in Fort Wayne, IN on May 17 and continues in different cities all the way through May 2026.
On Monday, 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.’
The legendary country crooner also shared insight into the reclusive, retired asphalt road-paver’s private life, revealing that he struggled in the lead up to his pᴀssing.
Read More Dolly Parton reveals painful truth about husband’s reclusive life 
‘He suffered a great deal,’ Dolly admitted.
‘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.’
Parton was only 18 when she famously met Carl in 1964 at the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day after moving to Nashville from Sevierville to start her career.
Three days after his death, the 11-time Grammy winner released a touching song dedicated to Dean called If You Hadn’t Been There.
Dolly was honored with not one, but two star-studded tributes during NBC’s live Opry 100: A Live Celebration in Nashville, TN on Wednesday.
Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, and Lady A performed Parton’s 1973 hit I Will Always Love You with the help of Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill and 60 other members from the Grand Ole Opry choir.
The grieving 79-year-old – who’s spent the past two weeks crying – seemed delighted to glam up in a pair of cha-cha heels and a black rhinestone-embellished blazer dress designed by her lifelong creative director Steve Summers
Dolly donned a platinum-blonde fringed hairpiece crafted by her trusty wig master Cheryl Riddle as well as plenty of jewelry to coordinate with her ornate costume
In 1971, Parton released a song called Coat of Many Colors, which clearly inspired her multi-hued eye shadow and she also rocked a trendy overlined neutral pout for the festivities
The national treasure then hit the Schermerhorn Symphony Center stage to speak to the audience before the Nashville Symphony Orchestra performed with her seven hand-picked singers in the innovative multimedia experience featuring herself on screen
‘They’re all special to me and just hearing them all done, and just hearing what the symphony and all the wonderful singers are going to do to them – that’s really what songwriters live for is to hear other people do your songs and hope that other people enjoy them,’ Dolly said
Threads: My Songs In Symphony will next take place at the Foellinger Theatre in Fort Wayne, IN on May 17 and continues in different cities all the way through May 2026
On Monday, 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’
The legendary country crooner also shared insight into the reclusive, retired asphalt road-paver’s (L) private life, revealing that he struggled in the lead up to his pᴀssing
Dolly admitted: ‘I’m at peace that he’s at peace, but that don’t keep me from missing him and loving him. 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 only 18 when she famously met Carl in 1964 at the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day after moving to Nashville from Sevierville to start her career
Three days after his death, the 11-time Grammy winner released a touching song dedicated to Dean called If You Hadn’t Been There
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
Carly Pearce also sang a cover of the Dollywood founder’s 1973 classic song Jolene onstage the Ryman Auditorium.
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, helmed by Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher, she co-wrote the book with two-time Emmy-winning producer Maria S. Schlatter and penned ‘many original songs’ and ‘included all your favorites’ too.
The Please Please Please singer – who averages 17.7M monthly listeners on Spotify – has sold over 100M records and broken 10 Guinness World Records.
Dolly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
