Just weeks after the death of her beloved husband, Dolly Parton was honored at the Grand Ole Opry on March 19.
Grand Ole Opry’s 100-year live concert celebration closed out with an emotional tribute to Parton, who could not appear at the show in person.
A choir of around 50 Grand Ole Opry members filled the stage, along with some of the biggest names in country music, to sing Parton’s renowned hit “I Will Always Love You.” Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady A, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood led the performance.
Before the song, a video from Dolly Parton played at the Grand Ole Opry. “Well hello, I am Dolly Parton and I am a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry,” Parton 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.”
“Good-bye, please don’t cry / ‘Cause we both know that I’m not / What you need,” they sang. “But I will always love you / I will always love you.”
Watch the Grand Ole Opry 100 Dolly Parton tribute
NBC and Peacock aired the Grand Ole Opry 100 celebration. A partial video of the tribute aired on Today.com.
When did Dolly Parton’s husband die?
The tribute comes only weeks after Dolly Parton’s beloved husband, Carl Thomas Dean, died on March 3. The couple were married in 1966 and spent nearly 60 happy years together.
Parton has made a few public statements since her husband’s death, including at the 2025 opening day of Dollywood. It’s tradition for Parton, the park’s Dreamer-In-Chief to make an appearance, but this year, fans were uncertain if they would see the country music icon.
But, of course, Parton did not let her fans down and was present on opening day.
“I just wanted you to know that of course I will always love him and I miss him, but I want you to know that I always love you,” Parton told the crowd at Dollywood on March 14. “He would want me to be working today,” she added, while also thanking fans for their flowers, cards and well wishes.