Dolly Parton is getting candid over a beautiful tribute to her late husband Carl Dean. The singer, 79, took to her Instagram Story on Friday to share how much she loved Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Lady A and the Opry choir’s performance at the “Opry 100 Special” this week.

Dean was famously private and would seldom appear in public, let alone with his famous wife. But Parton said he would come to her theme park, standing in line to buy a ticket just like other visitors to Dollywood. “He didn’t want somebody giving him a ticket ‘cause he was Dolly’s husband,” she said.

Only a few weeks after the death of her beloved husband of over 50 years, Dolly Parton stepped out at the opening celebration of her revered theme park, Dollywood, as she does every year, putting on a brave face in the wake of the turmoil and grief she's surely facing after Carl Dean's passing at