Dolly Parton makes first public appearance since husband's death

Dolly Parton has made her first public appearance since her husband's death.

The country star, 79, attended the preview for Dollywood season pass holders ahead of opening for its 40th season in Tennessee on Friday.

She opened the event by thanking fans for their well wishes and cards, since her husband of 59 years, Carl Dean, died on 3 March.

"Of course I will always love him, and I'll miss him, but I wanted you to know that I will always love you," she told the audience.

Carl was 82 when he died. Soon after his death Dolly took to Instagram to give a tribute to her husband.

"Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy," she wrote.

She later added, "I can't reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in God's arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you."

On 7 March, she released a new song, If You Hadn't Been There, in memory of her husband.

"Carl and I fell in love when I was 18 and he was 23, and like all great love stories, they never end," she said. "They live in memory and in song, and I dedicate this to him."

Dolly and Carl met in 1964 in Nashville, and married in 1966. Carl was notoriously private and made very few public appearances alongside his wife.

"They say that opposites attract, and it's true," Dolly told People in 2015. "We're completely opposite, but that's what makes it fun. I never know what he's gonna say or do. He's always surprising me."