Dolly Parton made her first public appearance after her husband Carl Dean‘s passing on March 3 at the age of 82. On Friday morning (March 14), the country legend took part in a celebration of Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season. According to the Knoxville, Tennessee news station WVLT, Parton started off the event by thanking guests for their love and support after Dean’s passing. “I just want to say thank you and I love you for all the flowers, cards and well-wishes,” she said. “I just wanted you to know that of course, I will always love him. I will miss him, and of course I will always love you.” she said. Parton and Dean met as young adults in Nashville, Tennessee, before tying the knot on May 30, 1966 in Ringgold, Georgia. Dean’s cause of death has yet to be publicly revealed. Following his passing, Parton paid tribute to her late husband by releasing a poignant new song, “If You Hadn’t Been There.” (Billboard)