Dolly Parton attended the opening day of Dollywood on Friday with fans and season passholders, her first public appearance since her husband Carl Dean's death.

The private country music legend celebrated the life of her late husband Carl Dean during a sneak peek of Dollywood's 40th anniversary in Tennessee.

Dolly Parton has made her first public appearance since her husband, Carl Dean, died at the age of 82. The country icon turned up in person at the 2025 opening of Dollywood on Friday (March 14), putting aside her personal troubles to smile and wave at fans who had traveled from all over the country to be there.