Fans of Dolly Parton are delighted to see the legendary singer out and about and smiling for the cameras less than three weeks after losing her beloved husband of nearly 60 years.
Dolly turned out in full-on glam for the world premiere of “Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony” at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville.
She took the stage in a sparkly silver dress and her ever-present high heels to introduce the show.
But when Dolly began telling the story behind “Threads,” her microphone glitched and nobody could hear her. Unfazed, Dolly waited for the problem to be fixed, then said, “You mean you haven’t been able to hear me this entire time? Well, then I’m just gonna start all over again. Welcome to the Schermerhorn!”
Parton was quick to thank the audience for their kind words and prayers after the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, who died on March 3.
‘Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony’ Is a Labor of Love for Songwriter
Dolly told the crowd what to expect in the performance, saying, “I’ve chosen some of my favorite songs I’ve written through the years. I’ve written thousands of them, but we couldn’t do thousands tonight. But hopefully you will enjoy the ones I did choose and I’m gonna be narrating the stories and tell you about why I wrote the songs and what they are about.”
Those stories were pre-recorded and woven throughout the music, playing on a big screen behind the orchestra.
Among the stories the legendary singer told was one about one of her most famous songs, “Jolene.” In a pre-taped video, Dolly told the audience, “Carl and his daddy owned an asphalt paving business. And one day I wondered why he was spending so much time at the bank. So I went down there myself. He was sitting on the corner of a desk of a beautiful woman. I asked him what he was doing. And he said he was talking to her about a loan so he could buy a new roller for the asphalt paving business. I said ‘You better get on to the house or it’s gonna be your a** and your fault. I ended up writing a song about her and she made me a lot of money.”
Dolly Stays for Show & Dances to the Music
After introducing the program, Dolly Parton stayed for the entire performance according to “The Tennessean” newspaper. Dolly sat in a box seat high above the stage. The singer reportedly danced in her seat and sang along to the songs.
Four singers performed “If You Hadn’t Been There,” gesturing to Parton as they sang.
Just days after her husband’s death, Dolly posted that song on her Instagram account. In the caption, she wrote, ““I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him.”
The singer/songwriter posted the touching song to her YouTube channel as well.
The heartfelt lyrics read, “If you hadn’t been there where would I be? / Without your trust love and belief. / The ups and downs we’ve always shared. / And I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been there. I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been there. / Holding my hand. / Showing you care. / You made me dream more than I dared. / And I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t been there.”
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Dolly Parton Is All Smiles at Symphony Premiere